India-Australia first Test postponed

According to reports, Cricket Australia (CA) on Saturday said in a statement that the first test, due to start next Thursday had been postponed to allow players time to mourn the shock death of Phillip Hughes.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said: “These are extraordinary circumstances and we simply couldn’t or wouldn’t expect our players to be emotionally ready to start a Test match the day after farewelling one of their teammates."

“The first Test between Australia and India that was scheduled to start in Brisbane next Thursday has been postponed until an unspecified date to allow the cricket world time to grieve over the death of Phillip Hughes,” the statement said.

Sutherland further said: “We are grateful to the Australian community for the overwhelming show of support it has extended to the Hughes family in recent days. The offers of assistance for Wednesday’s service have been remarkable. Their welfare is our absolute priority. They are grieving and to expect that they could play a high-pressured, five-day Test match the following day is out of the question."

“We appreciate the incredible understanding and support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. It has been nothing short of outstanding during these difficult times. We fully acknowledge the many groups who want to know when the Test will take place, particularly cricket fans in Queensland, Queensland Cricket and Stadiums Queensland."

“We just ask the cricket community for some patience as we work through a range of scenarios in full consultation with the players, the Indian Board, the ICC and our broadcasters. We hope to resolve all matters in the next few days and will let cricket fans and the game’s many important stakeholders know as a priority.”

It has been learnt that the test will start only after the funeral of Hughes with furhter details for the Test match are still to be determined.

His funeral will be held in his home town of Macksville, between Brisbane and Sydney in northern New South Wales (NSW) on Wednesday and Cricket Australia said it was “neither feasible nor fair” to begin the test the next day.

Australian test players David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon were fielding at the SCG when Hughes was fatally struck.

An official for CA said, even if the team decides playing the first Test has merit, finding 11 Australians mentally ready to take the field in Brisbane will be difficult.

ACA chief executive Alastair Nicholson said: “After consulting with the players, we have communicated to Cricket Australia that the opportunity to farewell their team mate is the priority, and the prospect of them playing the following day is simply too big an ask.’’

“The players are going through a grieving process and they must be afforded the opportunity to do so. As anyone can appreciate, this process doesn’t run according to a clock or a calendar," he added.

Ticket sales for the Test have been suspended.

Former captain Ricky Ponting does not think it would be right for Australia's first Test against India in Brisbane next week to go ahead following the death of Phillip Hughes.

"It's been such a tragic week for the Hughes family and the cricket community and I can't imagine how anybody can be expected to play Test cricket on Thursday. In fact I don't think it would be right. "Even if the boys think they can play it would be a miracle if they find the right frame of mind needed for five days of cricket," said Ponting.

"It's one thing to say Phillip Hughes would have wanted the four-Test series against India to start as scheduled, he added.

The two-day warm-up match, between India and CA XI, which was to have been played on Friday and Saturday was cancelled, have been understanding and supportive of the unprecedented circumstances.

The CA said that its officials have maintained close contact with the BCCI since Hughes was critically injured on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the funeral would be held in the sports hall of Macksville High School where Hughes, 25, was educated, CA said.

It has been learnt that the life and achievements of Hughes, who would have turned 26 tomorrow, will be honoured and celebrated at a funeral service.

A state memorial service will be held at a later date at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The funeral will be telecast live on TV and Radio networks around the country. It will also be streamed live on Cricket Australia’s website and mobile app.