First India-Australia Test postponed, Phil Hughes’ funeral on Dec 3
Brisbane: Cricket Australia on Saturday issued an official statement stating that the first India vs Australia Test has been postponed. The Brisbane Test was to commence on December 4. The media release also said that Phil Hughes' funeral will be held on Wednesday in Macksville.
First #AUSvIND Test has been postponed with Phillip Hughes's funeral to be held Wednesday: http://t.co/EPkK52agUY pic.twitter.com/w07zbogF97
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 29, 2014There were quite a few indications from the former cricketers about rescheduling of the Brisbane Test following a tragic death of the young Australian batsman Phil Hughes on Thursday. India's second tour match was also cancelled.
Read: Cricket family mourns loss of Phillip Hughes
Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border, after whom the Border-Gavaskar is named. have called for postponing the first Test.
The Indian batting legend has said that the players will not be in a mood to play the first Test while Border said the first Test, which is scheduled to begin on December 4, should go on but it can start on December 8.
"The game must go on but I do have some misgivings about the timing of the first Test against India, starting next Thursday. With Phillip's funeral likely to be held next week, I think the Gabba Test should be pushed back three days to give players more time to grieve," Border said.
"The players will all want to go to the funeral to send off their mate. I don't think they can be in the right frame of mind for a Test match at such a time," he wrote in his column appeared on 'Herald Sun'.
Watch: Inconsolable Michael Clarke breaks down while reading Cricket Australia's tribute to Phil Hughes
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland on Friday said, "To be honest, we haven't broached that subject with the players yet. We will in time, but to be honest, they've got other things on their minds.
Cricket will go on and it will go on when we're ready," Sutherland told reporters outside the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
He added, Emotions were still too raw in the wake of the death of Phillip Hughes to make a decision on whether to go ahead with next week's first test against India,
Here is the official statement issued by Cricket Australia:
Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland 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.
“While we know that people from all around the nation want to pay their respects to Phillip, there will only be limited capacity in Macksville, so the work of our broadcasters will help ensure people around the country can follow the service on TV, radio and online.”
The decision to postpone the Test until a date to be confirmed was made in close consultation with the players, the Australian Cricketers Association and officials in India.
Cricket Australia officials have maintained close contact with the Board of Control for Cricket in India since Hughes was critically injured last Tuesday and died two days later as a result of the injuries he received when struck by a ball while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.
Sutherland said the BCCI, and the Indian Test squad which is currently in Adelaide where a scheduled two-day warm-up match to have been played yesterday and today was cancelled, have been understanding and supportive of the unprecedented circumstances.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
CA also announced that ticket sales for the postponed Test have been suspended.
“We know that there are many people who have purchased tickets to the Test match who will be wondering what happens next (and) once the situation has been resolved, we will advise them as a priority,” Sutherland said.
“Fans should simply hold onto their tickets until further notice.”
Australian Cricketers Association 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.
"This is a unique situation and a unique response is required. We will continue to discuss options with the players and Cricket Australia over the coming days.”
