Fitting venue for delayed first test after Phillip Hughes tragedy
Adelaide, to host Australia-India clash, was the adopted home ground for 25-year-old batsman who died last week
Australia's four-test series against India will now start in Adelaide next Tuesday after Cricket Australia yesterday reworked the schedule following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.
The opening clash between the teams was due to start on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane, but was put off following the death of Hughes in a freak on-field incident, with skipper Michael Clarke admitting that his players were left emotionally shattered.
Hughes died last Thursday from bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, throwing the cricketing world into mourning.
Sport is supposed to engender pride, not grief. Phillip Hughes' passing is a reminder life is both precious and fragile
India were scheduled to travel to Brisbane yesterday to prepare for the test, but they remained in Adelaide, effectively ending any hopes that the Gabba test may be pushed back by one or two days.
With Hughes' funeral scheduled for tomorrow in his home town of Macksville, Cricket Australia listed a change of dates on its website, with Adelaide Oval now hosting the first test.
This is seen as a fitting venue for the first test given it was Hughes' adopted home ground for the past two summers with South Australia.
The shift will allow the second test to be played in Brisbane from December 17-21 with the traditional Boxing Day clash in Melbourne remaining unchanged, while the Sydney test has been pushed back three days and will now start on January 6.
