Cricket Australia (CA) today said it will be up to the players to decide whether they are ready for the "extremely emotional" first cricket Test against India in the the aftermath of Philip Hughes' demise, as fast bowler Ryan Harris admitted he is unsure about his participation.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said it is too early to speculate which players will be mentally ready to take the field for the re-scheduled first Test in Adelaide next Tuesday.
CA confirmed a series of date changes to Australia's four-Test series against India on Monday night, prompted by the tragic death of Hughes.
Adelaide Oval will now host the postponed first Test, with the game to start at Hughes' adopted home ground two weeks after the 25-year-old was felled by a bouncer.
Sutherland, speaking en route to Macksville for Hughes' funeral tomorrow, said when the time comes it will be up to each squad member to decide whether they're ready for what shapes as an extremely emotional Test.
"Any player that is not comfortable or doesn't feel right, or there is medical advice to suggest they're not quite right, then we will obviously understand that," Sutherland was quoted by Australia's AAP news agency as saying.
"I'm sure the broader public will understand that as well. Understand that we and the Australian Cricketers' Association will be supporting them and nobody will think ill of anyone who feels uncomfortable about it," Sutherland said.
"Test cricket is a different game, it's not just going out there and playing a game of sport for a couple of hours ... It's a big step," he said.
Test players David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon were on the field during last Tuesday's freak accident at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
