In the context of the tragic death of Hughes, should India's tour of Australia continue as planned?
Cancel the entire tour for now and reschedule for next year?
Cancel Gabba test to allow time for all, especially mates of Hughes, to go through a proper grieving process?
What now?
posted on 29/11/14
First test is delayed to allow time for players to attend Hughes' funeral on Dec 3rd and have sometime to recover.
I would have suggested cancelling Gabba test and making this a 3-test series. There are, of course, financial implications for CA and BCCI which they will sure consider.
posted on 29/11/14
I also feel CA has handled this difficult situation quite responsibly so far.
posted on 29/11/14
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/cricket/phillip-hughes-death-cricket-australias-james-sutherland-speaks-to-media-at-scg/story-fnii0bxd-1227137889706
Gavaskar suggested abandoning the Gabba test match while Border had an opposite view.
posted on 30/11/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 30/11/14
This was yet another freak accident. According to news reports, the batsman hit the ball hard, the ball then hit the stumps at the other end, and it rebounded off the stumps, and hit the main umpire on the neck around the jaw region. There is uncertainty whether his death was due to head injury (the only injury that can cause sudden death would be SAH) or he had a heart attack as a result of the shock. Hillel Oscar was a Bene-Israeli Jew who immigrated from Bombay to Israel several years ago and captained the Israeli national cricket team.
This was the second time an umpire died on the field. An English umpire died in 2009 after a " misdirected throw from a fielder hit him in the head."
posted on 30/11/14
One more speculation in the media as we wait for a decision on the Brisbane test:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/brisbane-test-could-be-held-in-new-year-as-ca-juggles-schedule-after-phillip-hughes-death-20141130-11x673.html
posted on 1/12/14
So, the news comes that Adelaide test will now be the first match and Brisbane second. Four tests in 33 days is quite a hectic schedule for both teams in the context of the ODIs that follow. IMO, it would have been better if they had cancelled Brisbane and cut this to a 3-test series. But then, cancellation would have brought in additional headaches for the organisers. So, it appears that they have come up with a decent revised schedule.
posted on 1/12/14
Keeping a 4 test series is all about money. India are the cash cow, TV deals, decent Indian support, sponsorship etc etc
Had it been Pakistan or Sri Lanka for example, the Aussies would have cancelled the test and made it a 3 test series.
posted on 1/12/14
Kash,
Not sure I agree with that. Aussies Saffers series recently was played with half empty stands. I expect more people turn up and support the after the traguc events of last week... I think the same would have happened regardless of the opposition
posted on 2/12/14
I reckon attendance will be large for this series. I also believe both teams will be on their best behaviour.