The Adelaide Test could reportedly be recast as the first of the summer with the Brisbane fixture expected to be rescheduled to allow late Australian batsman Phillip Hughes' shattered teammates some breathing space following his funeral.
Hughes' family confirmed on Saturday that his funeral would be held in the sports hall of his old high school at Macksville, in northern NSW, on Wednesday.
The Test series against India was due to start at the Gabba on Thursday, but Cricket Australia announced that it would be postponed, reiterating that the welfare of players is their absolute priority, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
A few options for the rescheduling of the Brisbane Test are reportedly being discussed, but the raw grief of the Australian players was written all over the face of his captain and close friend Michael Clarke when he summoned all his strength to get through a statement paying tribute to Hughes on behalf of his team.
It seems unlikely that delaying the Test by a day or two would allow players enough time to be emotionally ready after saying farewell to the mate whose death, Clarke said, would change their dressing room forever. However, it's conceivable it could start on Friday or Saturday.
The alternatives would be to play the Brisbane Test after Adelaide, which ends on December 16, and before the Boxing Day Test, or after the Sydney Test in January.
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Hughes' death has prompted an unprecedented spirit of co-operation between Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers' Association, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, broadcasters and venues.
CA boss James Sutherland said that these are extraordinary circumstances and they simply couldn't or wouldn't expect their players to be emotionally ready to start a Test match the day after farewelling one of their teammates.
Sutherland added that the players welfare is their absolute priority. He said that 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 also said that they appreciate the incredible understanding and support of the BCCI. He added that it has been nothing short of outstanding during these difficult times.