Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke wipes his eyes as he cries reading a tribute to Phillip Hughes, who died on Thursday, during a media conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Reuters
Reuters/Sydney
The first test between Australia and India has been postponed to allow his team mates to mourn the death of Phillip Hughes at his funeral on Wednesday, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Saturday.
The test was scheduled to start in Brisbane on Thursday, a week after batsman Hughes died at the age of 25 as a result of being struck on the head by a ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground two days earlier.
Given the close proximity of the funeral in his hometown of Macksville to the start of the four-match series, CA said it would be unreasonable for the Australian players to be expected to play.
"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 team mates," CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a news release.
"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."
Sutherland asked for patience from cricket fans while a new date was found for the test.
"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," he added.
"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."
The second test is scheduled to take place in Adelaide from Dec. 12-16 with the third starting on Boxing Day (Dec. 26) in Melbourne and the fourth and final match in Sydney running from Jan. 3-7.
