Phil Hughes' adopted home Adelaide likely to host first India-Australia Test
Sydney: The first Test between India and Australia may be shifted from Brisbane to Adelaide, the adopted home town of Phillip Hughes, providing both teams more time to come to terms with the tragic death of the cricketer who was to turn 26 on Sunday.
Adelaide, which was scheduled to host the second Test from December 12-16, will now host the opening match of the four-match series, according to sources.
Earlier on Monday, Cricket Australia issued a statement that confirmed Team India's stay in Adelaide untill the venue of the first Test is decided.
The Indian side will remain in Adelaide until details for the first Test have been confirmed.
— Cricket Australia (@CAComms) December 1, 2014The funeral of Hughes, who died after being hit by a bouncer during a domestic game, will take place in the sports hall of his old High School in Macksville, New South Wales on Wednesday.
Read: Phil Hughes’ funeral on Dec 3
The report further suggested that the Brisbane Test, supposed to take place from December 4, could be accommodated between the Adelaide Test and the Boxing Day Test (December26-30).
Hosting the match is also possible after the Sydney Test (January 3-7) , which precedes the ODI tri-series starting January 16. Cricket Australia on Saturday postponed the Brisbane Test to an unspecified date to give players more breathing space after Hughes’ funeral.
CA CEO James Sutherland had 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 (sic) one of their teammates. 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,” he added.
