First Test between Australia and India postponed to unconfirmed date

Cricket Australia (CA) have confirmed that the first of the 4-match Test series between Australia and India, scheduled to take place at Brisbane, starting December 4, has been postponed to an unconfirmed date in the aftermath of Phillip Hughes’ tragical death a couple of days ago, after being hit on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match on November 25.

First #AUSvIND Test has been postponed with Phillip Hughes's funeral to be held Wednesday: http://t.co/EPkK52agUY pic.twitter.com/w07zbogF97
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 29, 2014

The cricketer’s funeral will take place in Macksville on December 3. CA believes that it will neither be feasible nor fair to begin the Test the very next day of the funeral, and it is understood that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were extremely supportive of the decision when contacted about the issue.

Not right for teams to play first Test – Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting had earlier said that it wouldn’t be right for Australia and India to go ahead and play the first Test, as the players would find it difficult to find the right frame of mind to play a 5-day game.

In his column for News Limited newspapers, Ricky Ponting writes, "It's one thing to say Phillip Hughes would have wanted the four-Test series against India to start as scheduled. It's another for 11 men to take the field at the Gabba a week after their close friend died.”

The former Australian captain added: "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. In fact I don't think it would be right.

"Even if the boys think they can play it would be a miracle if they find the right frame of mind needed for five days of cricket."