Phillip Hughes: Cricket Australia postpones **ba Test with funeral to be held Wednesday afternoon
Updated 4 minutes agoSat 29 Nov 2014, 6:31pm PHOTO: Australia's players have been heavily shaken by the death of team-mate and friend Phillip Hughes.(Getty Images: Joosep Martinson) RELATED STORY: Emotional Clarke leads team tribute to Hughes RELATED STORY: Outpouring of tributes for Phillip Hughes RELATED STORY: Queen sends condolences to Hughes family MAP: Brisbane 4000
Cricket Australia (CA) has opted to postpone Australia's first Test against India at the **ba as players continue to struggle with grief after the death of Phillip Hughes.
The Test was scheduled to begin in Brisbane on Thursday, but with Hughes's funeral to take place on Wednesday afternoon, CA has allowed mourning players more time to recover.
No rescheduled date has been set for the match, with CA chief executive James Sutherland reiterating that player welfare is the primary concern at present.
"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."
Sutherland thanked Indian cricket officials for their understanding, and have asked the wider cricket community for the same patience.
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.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland
"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.
"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.
"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." More on this story:
Any fans with tickets to the match already purchased have been told to hold on to them, with more instructions and information surrounding a new start date to be provided in the coming days.
"We know that there are many people who have purchased tickets to the Test match who will be wondering what happens next? Once the situation has been resolved, we will advise them as a priority," Sutherland said.
"Fans should simply hold onto their tickets until further notice."
Former Test captain Ricky Ponting had previously said it would not "be right" to play the Test.
"It's one thing to say Phillip Hughes would have wanted the four-Test series against India to start as scheduled," Ponting wrote.
"It's another for 11 men to take the field at the **ba a week after their close friend died.
"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. Funeral to be held in Hughes's home town
Hughes lived in the Mid-North Coast town of only a few thousand until his teenage years, when he moved to Sydney to pursue his cricketing dream.
Qantas has scheduled two additional B737 services between Sydney and Coffs Harbour to assist people wishing to travel, while the event will be broadcast live around the country on television and radio, including ABC Local Radio.
Sutherland acknowledged the widespread interest in the service as the entire country continues to pay tribute to Hughes, and said "the offers of assistance for Wednesday's service has been remarkable".
"We are grateful to the Australian community for the overwhelming show of support it has extended to the Hughes family in recent days," Sutherland.
"While we know that people from all around the nation want to pay their respects to Phillip, there will only be limited capacity in Macksville, so the work of our broadcasters will help ensure people around the country can follow the service on TV, radio and online."
A state memorial service is also set to be held at the SCG, with the date yet to be determined.
PHOTO: Australia's players have been heavily shaken by the death of team-mate and friend Phillip Hughes.(Getty Images: Joosep Martinson)
