Mitchell Johnson of Australia bowls the ball and hits Virat Kohli of India on the helmet. Source: Getty Images

Nathan Lyon, one of four Test stars present at the SCG on November 25 when Hughes was fatefully hit in the side of the head, revealed the horrific sense of déjà vu that came from hearing that awful sound again so soon.

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Players spent the first two days of the Test psychologically readjusting to being back out on a cricket field, but this was the moment that showed the game has now changed.

Nathan Lyon talks to the press after day three of the first Test against India at Adelaide Oval.

Last summer Johnson glared at the English batsmen he had hopping around the crease and believed it was his duty as a fast bowler not to offer comfort to South African batsman Ryan McLaren earlier this year, who he floored at Centurion.

Yesterday, he was the first man to Kohli’s aid, followed by teammates and the umpires.

The Australian spearhead had to be comforted by captain Michael Clarke and counseled at the lunch break after he was left visibly distressed by what he had done.

Mitchell Johnson hits Indian captain Virat Kohli in the head with a bouncer. Photo by Michael Dodge Source: Getty Images

Lyon said he, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and David Warner – those present at the SCG when Hughes received a fatal blow from a bouncer – were also left frightened.

“Your heart skips a beat, especially for the four guys who were out there,” said Lyon.

“I know I went to everyone just to ask if they were ok because it is something you don’t want to see again when we were out there with Phil’s incident.

“Again today that sound was pretty familiar.

“That’s why we all ran in there quite quickly just to see if he was ok. That was the main thing so.

India have fought back on day three of the first TEst against Australia at Adelaide Oval.

“It was something you don’t want to see ever happen again what we saw happen with Phil.”

Yesterday, Haddin, Watson, Warner and Lyon assumed virtually their same positions on the field as they did just over two weeks ago, and when Kohli ducked into a ferocious Johnson bouncer just before lunch, they instinctively feared the worst.

Wicket keeper Haddin was so close to Hughes at the SCG he lunged to try and catch his fall.

Yesterday he ran to the stumps with arms out in case he had to do the same for Kohli.

Watson at first slip and Warner also close to the bat, rushed to the Indian skipper’s aid, and in unprecedented scenes, so did every other Australian player, Kohli’s batting partner Cheteshwar Pujara as well as the two umpires.

David Warner and the Australian player show concern for Kohli after he was hit in the head by a Mitchell Johnson bouncer. Pic Mark Brake Source: News Corp Australia

Kohli’s heart must have been racing, but he stoically waved away the help, insisting there was nothing wrong.

In the end he powered on to make a signature century for his country.

Johnson appeared in despair as he walked back to his mark – Clarke massaging his shoulders and having a comforting word in his ear as support.

Fast bowling ally Peter Siddle also came over to reassure his mate and at the end of the over, Haddin took time to speak to Johnson.

Cheteshwar Pujara talks to the press after day three of the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval.

Lyon revealed Johnson had to be supported further at lunch, but believes the incident would ultimately help settle the nerves of the anxious Australian team.

“As bad as it sounds, it probably has been a positive thing as well,” said Lyon.

“We know the helmets work and to have that confidence for our quicks to bowl a bouncer again.

“I know we spoke about that at lunch time with just Mitch, so he’s feeling good and I can guaruntee he’s going to come out and fire in the second innings and have that aggression we all love him for.”

Michael Clarke and Peter Siddle comfort Mitchell Johnson after hitting Virat Kohli in the head with a bouncer. Photo by Michael Dodge Source: Getty Images

This was an incident that was going to happen at one time or another, and it was always going to be a test of the Australian team’s wounded mental state.

However, the reassuring thing was that Kohli was uninjured like thousands of batsmen who have been hit before him.

Johnson indicated he would find it hard to cope with hitting a batsman when he addressed the media pre-match.

“I’m not sure. It might be different this time,” he said in the lead-up.

“I haven’t hit anyone yet so I don’t know how I’m going to feel.

“We all found it pretty hard (at training)… to go in there and bowl a short ball.”

Brendon Julian and Stuart Clark review day three of the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval.

But Johnson also emphasised pre-match that the Australians had no choice but to simply carry on with their aggressive mindset.

And to his credit, he stayed true to that pledge yesterday, finishing the day with another vicious spell that included three consecutive bouncers to new batsman Wriddhiman Saha.

“We’ve got to play the way that we’ve been playing and that’s been aggressive,” Johnson forecasted pre-match.

“That’s the way I’ve always played the game and I know how the boys will be, going out there and playing the best cricket they can.

“If that’s bowling the short ball like we have been, then that’s how we’ll do it.”

Former Test all-rounder Greg Matthews says the players over-reacted to Mitchell Johnson's bouncer, which hit Virat Kohli and that cricket needs to move on.