Just in - First test postponed

[-Robin-]

Hindustan Times follows All India Radio News ‏@airnewsalerts 9m9 minutes ago The first test match between India and Australia scheduled for next Thrusday postponed. #PhilHughes

[G_B_]

I don't see other test dates changing' date=' because that will mean more confusion and more head ache for CA to return/exchange/refund tickets for different days of other test matches. They will have to come up with the window for this test or cancel it. Boxing day test in Melbourne will keep it's date for sure since that's a historical test match and no one can change it's date and venue. They might delay the tri series by a day or two may be and put this gabba test right in the end.[/quote'] +1 make the first test the fourth test. As you said the boxing day and 2nd of Jan test cannot be moved.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

The BCCI has to agree to the changes.BCCI surely wont want the players to be grounded to dust before the world cup.There are limits to exceptions being made.

[rkt.india]

+1 make the first test the fourth test. As you said the boxing day and 2nd of Jan test cannot be moved.

No need to move 3rd and 4th test, 10 days gap between 2nd and third test will be reduced by day or 2.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

No need to move 3rd and 4th test' date=' just 10 days gap between 2nd and third test will be [b']reduced to day or 2.

Dont agree with that and dont want BCCI to agree to that as well.Well being of other players cannot be put on stake.Sorry dont agree with this at all.

[Lord]

There has to be a 3 day gap between Tests even as per ICC guidelines.Can't be less

[G_B_]

india probably had a practice game in these 10 days right#?

[rkt.india]

Dont agree with that and dont want BCCI to agree to that as well.Well being of other players cannot be put on stake.Sorry dont agree with this at all.

Why? It was a 10 day gap, can easily be reduced to 8. What's well being of other put on stake here?

[rkt.india]

india probably had a practice game in these 10 days right#?

Indians anyway would be happy to not play that.

[G_B_]

ok 2nd test ends on 12th 3rd starts 26th so you can play 16-20

[rkt.india]

There has to be a 3 day gap between Tests even as per ICC guidelines.Can't be less

And there is enough time to do that. First test 6-10 instead of 4-8, 2nd test 14-18 instead of 12-16, 3rd and 4th as usual on 26 and 3rd Jan.

[-Robin-]

ok 2nd test ends on 12th 3rd starts 26th so you can play 16-20

2nd test on 12-16

[Lord]

And there is enough time to do that. First test 6-10 instead of 4-8' date=' 2nd test 14-18 instead of 12-16, 3rd and 4th as usual on 26 and 2nd Jan.[/quote'] yes agree with that

[IKnowU]

CA knows nothing less then 4 tests is acceptable. Just reorganize and the 1st and 2nd test dates and everything should be smooth from there. Adelaide is already hosting so much more cricket, one game they can burden with a slight change. Brisbane has been heavily neglected by CA, if this test is cancelled then CA needs to compensate Brisbane.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Why? It was a 10 day gap' date=' can easily be reduced to 8. What's well being of other put on stake here?[/quote'] 2nd test finishes on 16th. 3rd test starts on 26th. Players go home on 24th to be with family for christmas so 24th and 25th no one is playing. ICC rules say minimum 3 days rest Tests can start no earlier than 20th. And even we say players dont get a Christmas break.3 days break before Boxing day means the test must finish by 22nd So its not possible.

[G_B_]

agree with sunny ji unless the aussie players agree to play on the 24th or 25th december i doubt you can squeeze it in. IMO either can the test or play it after the 2nd jan test.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

agree with sunny ji unless the aussie players agree to play on the 24th or 25th december i doubt you can squeeze it in. IMO either can the test or play it after the 2nd jan test.

Even then its not possible. As minimum 3 days rest means Test must start on 20th and finish on 22nd.So it cant be done. The best that can be done is to shift the 1st test from 4th to 6th and start the 2nd test from 14th.

[Crookbond]

http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/brisbane-million-miles-away/99/

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel has written to Cricket Australia informing them that the Indian board has left the future of the first Test at Gabba in Brisbane, scheduled to start next Thursday, in the aftermath of the Phil Hughes tragedy, entirely up to Cricket Australia. The board secretary has assured CA that the BCCI will abide by whatever decision that the home board takes. “I have mailed Cricket Australia and we have told them that it’s up to them to decide whether to play the first Test or not. Whatever CA will decide we will abide by it. We all understand what the players are going through at this stage. It’s such an unprecedented thing to happen. As a fellow board, we are with the CA and their players in these tough times,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told The Indian Express. The second practice game between India and Cricket Australia XI was called off after the Hughes incident and Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer James Sutherland on Friday said that the Gabba Test seemed “a million miles away” as the players continued to grieve for their friend and team-mate Hughes. Patel said that BCCI is yet to receive any intimation about the first Test and he is expecting a reply in the coming days. “The whole cricketing fraternity is in shock. He was a very fine cricketer who possessed the talent and temperament to have a long and fruitful international career that has been snatched by a cruel twist of fate. We are waiting for CA’s response but whatever they decide will be our decision too,” Patel added. Sutherland acknowledged that the BCCI had been extremely supportive given the tragic circumstances. “We’ve been in constant contact with the officials from the Indian cricket board and I’ve got to say that their understanding and empathy has been absolutely outstanding,” Sutherland said. “They completely understand the situation. They’re doing everything they can to do that. They’ll prepare themselves in the best way possible. They understand that these are unique and extraordinary circumstances and I guess if the Test match goes ahead, both teams will have a very different sort of preparation. Everyone wants to know about cricket and when it goes on, and what’s happening,” Sutherland said in Sydney on Friday morning. “We all love cricket and no one loved cricket more than Phillip. Cricket will go on, and it will go on when we’re ready. To be honest, we haven’t broached that subject with the players yet,” Sutherland said. “We will in time. To be honest, they’ve got other things on their mind. I know for many people, seven days doesn’t seem very far away, next Thursday, but in other ways it’s a million miles away. We’ll get there when we can,” Sutherland added. “We’re not going to talk about the first Test,” Cricket Australia performance manager Pat Howard said. “We know it’s there. What we’re focused on is today. We’ve brought the whole team in. The Australian Test team (is) here. Today is about grieving, about dealing with the questions. We need to make sure the players are in the position where they can make strong choices, and that’s not now. Any choices (will be made) with the Hughes family and where they are and involving them, and that’s obviously not now either … We’ll do whatever we can, whatever the players need to deal and cope with this. We’ll do whatever we can to help and support the Hughes family. We’re going to focus on people first rather than the cricket,” he said about CA’s immediate concerns. ‘Cricket will help heal’ Former skippers Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor feel next week’s first Test between India and Australia in Brisbane should go ahead as it would help the cricketers and the fans to come out and share the mourning of the loss of Phillip Hughes. Taylor feels it will be difficult for the players to deal with the massive loss but cricket is probably the best medicine to heal the pain. “We also need to talk to the players who were there on Tuesday at the game. It must be extremely tough for them,” he told the Nine Network’s Today program. “Ideally, it would be great for the Test match to go ahead so people could come out and share the mourning of the loss of Phillip Hughes, I suppose in a way it is a tribute to Phil Hughes to play a Test match, so there’s a lot to be discussed over the next probably three or four days before a decision will probably be made next week. “It’s never an easy situation but … the game will go on at some stage.” Chappell, too, echoed Taylor’s views, saying going back to the game is the best way to deal with the loss. “In a strange way I think it’ll be best for the players if they play the first Test,” Chappell said.

[rkt.india]

2nd test finishes on 16th. 3rd test starts on 26th. Players go home on 24th to be with family for christmas so 24th and 25th no one is playing. ICC rules say minimum 3 days rest Tests can start no earlier than 20th. And even we say players dont get a Christmas break.3 days break before Boxing day means the test must finish by 22nd So its not possible.

Why you need to play on 24? 2nd test can start on 14 or 15 ending on 18 or 19, you still have 6 days of break. First test can start on 6 or 7 ending on 10 or 11. If they want to play then first test can be delayed 2-3 days, otherwise, it will be cancelled.

[rkt.india]

There are enough time to reschedule first two tests.