First Test may be rescheduled

The first Test between India and Australia is all set to be rescheduled as three of the senior cricketers from the home side — Shane Watson, David Warner and Brad Haddin — are among those who have expressed their lack of readiness to return to competitive cricket.

According to a report in ‘The Australian’, the first Test scheduled to start at the Gabba on December 4, may now be squeezed between the second Test at Adelaide (December 12-16) and the third Test at Melbourne (December 26-30).

The report stated: “The players met at the SCG on Thursday where they were addressed by Michael Clarke after the death of Phillip Hughes on Thursday. The Weekend Australian understands that the Test squad was unanimous in their decision not to play the game.”

“Test players Warner (David), Watson (Shane) and Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon were on the field when Hughes was struck and attended to him in the terrible minutes after the extent of the damage became apparent. What they saw on the pitch, what they saw in the hospital and the grief they feel has stripped them of the desire to play cricket.”

There is an expectation that Hughes’ funeral cannot take place until Wednesday. His body will be taken back to his home town of Macksville on the mid-north coast. If the players attend the funeral, it will be almost impossible to come back and concentrate on a Test match starting very next day.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said that the BCCI was completely supportive of the situation. “We’ve been in constant contact with the officials from the Indian cricket board and I’ve got to say that their understanding and empathy has been absolutely outstanding,” Sutherland said. “They completely understand the situation. They’re doing everything they can to do that.”

“They’ll prepare themselves in the best way possible. They understand that these are unique and extraordinary circumstances and I guess if the Test match goes ahead, both teams will have a very different sort of preparation.”

On the decision about the first Test, Sutherland said, “Cricket will go on and it will go on when we're ready," Sutherland told reporters.

"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. I know for many people, seven days doesn't seem too far away but in other ways it is a million miles away. We will get there when we can."