With just five days remaining for the start of 1st Test in Brisbane and there are doubts whether the series opener will go ahead as per schedule. Playing cricket is the last thing Australia players will be hoping, following Phil Hughes’ tragic death, especially David Warner, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon and Shane Watson, who were present when the tragic incident happened.
Hughes was fighting for a place in the opening Test and quite understandably emptiness will be felt in the Australia dressing room for a long time. The entire Australian team mourned Hughes’ death, including skipper Michael Clarke, who gave a tearful tribute to his former teammate and broke down in tears in the press conference.
“The players met at the SCG yesterday where they were addressed by Michael Clarke after the death of Phillip Hughes on Thursday,” a report in The Australian reads. “The Weekend Australian understands that the Test squad was unanimous in their decision not to play the game.
Hughes funeral is likely to take place at him hometown in Macksville on Wednesday next week, which will be attended by the entire Australia team. The Gabba Test will start the very next day and it is dubious that the players will come back in time for the match on a first place. The report also suggests that the Brisbane Test will be squeezed between the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests.
Cricket Australia has already made it clear that they are yet to get in touch with the players regarding the current situation, additional they are also in touch with the BCCI and the Indian board has given its backing, saying it completely understands the situation.
The second practice match between Team India and Cricket Australia XI at Adelaide Oval is suspended and former Australia skipper Rickey Ponting has also backed the players by saying that a five-day game requires concentration and if the players are not ready to take the field they shouldn’t be forced to play the opening Test on December 4.
Meanwhile, Hughes’ family has insisted that the opening Test should go ahead as per schedule, and former skipper Ian Chappell also said the same thing. Chappell added that he understands the situation Aussie players are going through, but it is necessary that they take the field “to get their mind off of that”.
“In a strange way I think it’ll be best for the players if they play the first Test,” Chappell said. “They’ll have to go to the practice nets, obviously, and when they’re in the practice nets, when they’re out on the field playing in the match, at least they’ll be concentrating on what they’ve got to do, how the cricket match is going.”
“Because they know that every know that every moment they’re off the field, whether they’re in the hotel, whether they’re out or whether they’re in the dressing room, they’ll be thinking of only one thing and that’ll be Phillip Hughes.”
“And so I think to get their mind off of that and to realise that as hard as it might seem, life has to go on, I think that’s the best way,” he added. “They’re cricketers. Playing cricket is probably the best way for them to get back into that frame of mind that life has to go on.”
