First Australia-India Test postponed as cricket world mourns Phillip Hughes

Sydney: Australia’s opening cricket test against India was postponed on Saturday hours after captain Michael Clarke wiped away tears as he spoke of the effect Phillip Hughes’ death has had on the team. Clearly, Clarke, who had to stop to compose himself several times as he spoke at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and his teammates were not ready to play the first test next Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane. Hughes, 25, died Thursday, two days after being hit in the head by a short-pitched ‘bouncer’ delivery during a domestic match at the SCG. [caption id=“attachment_1827617” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A bat placed among floral tributes at the entrance to the SCG following the death of Phil Hughes. AP[/caption] Shortly after Cricket Australia announced details of Hughes’ funeral next Wednesday in his hometown of Macksville in northern New South Wales state, chief executive James Sutherland said the team would not be ready to play the first test as initially scheduled. “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,” Sutherland 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.” Cricket Australia said Saturday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the India team had been understanding and supportive. Ticket sales for the test were suspended and no new date has been announced. The second test in Adelaide is scheduled to begin on Dec. 12 — only four days after the Brisbane match would have ended. Cricket Australia also said Hughes’ funeral will be held in the sports hall of Macksville High School where he was educated. Overflow areas will be made available for guests to watch the service and the funeral will be broadcast live on radio and television across Australia and on a video screen at the SCG. Earlier, Clarke read a statement that lasted about three minutes on behalf of the national team and support staff. “To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan (Hughes’ family), we share in the deep pain that you’re feeling,” Clarke said. “Our promise to Hughesy’s family is that we will do everything we can to honor his memory. Last night, I asked Cricket Australia if Hughesy’s Australian one-day international shirt, number 64, could be retired — to which they agreed.” Since Tuesday’s incident, Clarke had rarely left the Sydney hospital that Hughes, his close friend, was taken to for surgery. “Things were always put in perspective when Hughesy said ‘where else would you rather be boys, but playing cricket for your country?’. We’re going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye. The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.” Former captain Ricky Ponting, who is still very close to the team, said in a morning newspaper column that the first test could not have gone ahead. “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,” Ponting wrote in a News Corp. Australia column. Hughes’ family was reported to want it to proceed, but possibly not playing the first session on Thursday morning and instead placing a cricket bat on the Gabba pitch in his memory. Clarke’s statement came as cricketers around Australia started taking the field on for tributes on Saturday. In Sydney and Adelaide, the two cities were Hughes played, grade cricket — the level below interstate cricket — was cancelled. But club and school games mostly went ahead as planned, with many players wearing black armbands. Two numbers were often etched into pitches or on uniforms — 63, the run total Hughes had accrued before he was hit by the ball, and 408 — he was the 408th test player to compete for Australia. There were also tributes from around the world from current and former players. New Zealand, playing a test against Pakistan, etched the letters PH on their caps and refused to celebrate when wickets were claimed. The “putoutyourbats” hashtag has been trending on Twitter as thousands around the world place a cricket bat outside their home in honor of Hughes. AP