Steve Smith admits he was rattled by the sight of a net bowler copping a blow to the head, one year after Phillip Hughes was felled at the SCG.
Australia's training session under lights on Wednesday was temporarily halted after Mitch Marsh whacked a delivery back at a youngster in the nets.
Tom Cotter-Gilles, who plays with Southern Districts' B team in Adelaide's grade competition, didn't have time to shield his face.
The spinner didn't hit the deck but it was a patently painful knock.
He avoided serious injury and was treated for a cut on the ear by team doctor Peter Brukner.
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"I was a little bit shaken up to be perfectly honest with you," Smith said.
"I think a couple of the guys were as well.
"It was one year - to the day - since that horrible accident happened so I think it shook up a few of the players."
Marsh, David Warner and Steve O'Keefe were among the worried players nearby who came rushing over to check on the net bowler's condition after he was struck.
"Mitch Marsh certainly hit that ball pretty hard," Smith said.
"I think Mitchy is going ok, yeah.
"Luckily, the guy was ok. I think he got a couple of stitches in the back of his ear."
Marsh cut a distraught figure after the incident but returned to the nets.
The allrounder walked laps of Adelaide Oval on Thursday alongside team psychologist Michael Lloyd.
It was the latest visceral reminder of how much the sport had changed since Hughes' death.
Smith admitted the day-night Test, which starts on Friday at Adelaide Oval, would be a confronting time for everyone who was close to Hughes.
Hughes lost consciousness when struck on the neck by a bouncer from Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield match on November 25 last year.
He died two days later. The anniversary will be on day one of the third trans-Tasman Test.
"It was a pretty difficult time for us all coming here last year just after the horrible incident happened," Smith said.
"A year on, we still have Hughsey at the back of our minds every time we walk out onto the field.
"We're going to be doing our best to play with a smile on our face and hopefully play well for Hughsey.
"Obviously, it's a tough time for his family and his friends and we respect that and hopefully we can have a good week for Phillip."
