No one has been more devastated over the death of Phil Hughes more than Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke. The first Test has already been postponed.
You could tell how much the 25-year-old’s shock death on Thursday affected the Test captain, through the heartbreaking speeches he delivered not only when it was announced last week, but also on Saturday morning, when he was still able to compose himself given the circumstances.
What we learnt from the last four days is that Michael Clarke, through the good times and the bad, has learnt how to handle things very well, from last year’s Ashes whitewash to the homework controversy of 2013.
Undoubtedly, Phil Hughes’ death was the toughest moment not only of his cricket career, but also his life. It’s something that he will have to live with for the rest of his years, having lost a close friend in the most tragic of circumstances.
Hughes would have turned 26 yesterday, but instead the cricket world continues to mourn his death, such that the first Test between Australia and India at the Gabba has been postponed while his funeral is held in his hometown of Macksville on Wednesday.
The service will also be televised on Channel Nine nationwide and the big screens at the SCG and Adelaide Oval will also simulcast the service. It will be the last chance for Australian sporting fans to pay their final respects to the talented batsman.
It makes sense to at least postpone the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the Australian players would not have the strength and energy to even play any cricket given what has happened over the last four days.
That said, the future of the Gabba Test, which has always traditionally opened the Australian summer of cricket, remains in the air. It could be shortened by a day, rescheduled to a later date or even abandoned altogether.
It was suggested on Channel Nine’s news bulletin in Sydney that the Adelaide Oval Test could assume the mantle as being the first Test of the summer, given the players would still be in a huge state of shock even after Phil Hughes’ funeral is held on Wednesday.
It would be too soon for them to resume playing cricket after farewelling Hughes, if the Gabba Test were to still go ahead this week.
We now know that this Test will not start on Thursday as originally scheduled, but if it does, then the Adelaide Test would also have to be delayed to allow the three-day rest and recovery period between the first and second Tests to remain.
The second Test is scheduled for December 12-16, with the traditional Boxing Day Test being the next match in the four-Test series. There is a huge gap between the Adelaide and Boxing Day Tests (nine days for rest, recovery and training for the next Test), thus leaving the door open to any rescheduling if it must occur.
Therefore, taking into account the events of the last few days, this would be my revised Test schedule:
First Test
December 8-12, the Gabba
Second Test
December 16-20, Adelaide Oval
Third Test
As scheduled (26-30 December), Melbourne Cricket Ground
Fourth Test
As scheduled (2-6 January 2015), Sydney Cricket Ground
Under this proposal, four days have been provided between Hughes’ funeral and the first day of the Gabba Test, allowing for the players to move on and set their focus to playing cricket again.
Four full days have been provided for rest between the second and third Tests, allowing the players to travel to Melbourne and train for the Boxing Day Test, which starts on December 26.
That Test, the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the triangular one-day series between Australia, India and England will then run as scheduled. That way, the Gabba won’t lose its first Test and the fans in Brisbane who had already bought their tickets won’t miss out.
What do you think of this proposal? Please leave your thoughts below.
For anyone who missed Clarke’s speech, here it is.
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