First Test Between India and Australia Postponed as Phil Hughes Funeral Date is Announced

It was inevitable, and now it has been confirmed, with Cricket Australia announcing that the first Test match between Australia and India has been postponed.

Following the incredibly tragic death of Phil Hughes, it was clear the Australian players were nowhere near ready to get back on the field, and with Hughes' funeral set for 3 December, CA confirmed the postponement of the Brisbane Test which was set to begin on 4 December, Thursday.

After consulting with the players, we have communicated to Cricket Australia that the opportunity to farewell their team mate is the priority, and the prospect of them playing the following day is simply too big an ask," Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Alastair Nicolson said.

"The players are going through a grieving process and they must be afforded the opportunity to do so. As anyone can appreciate, this process doesn't run according to a clock or a calendar.

"This is a unique situation and a unique response is required. We will continue to discuss options with the players and Cricket Australia over the coming days."

CA did not give a specific time on when the Brisbane Test will be played, with the board confirming the announcement will be made "in the next few days."

"These are extraordinary circumstances and we simply couldn't or wouldn't expect our players to be emotionally ready to start a Test match the day after farewelling one of their teammates," CA chief executive James Sutherland said in a statement on their official website. "Their welfare is our absolute priority.

"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.

"We appreciate the incredible understanding and support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It has been nothing short of outstanding during these difficult times.

"We fully acknowledge the many groups who want to know when the Test will take place, particularly cricket fans in Queensland, Queensland Cricket and Stadiums Queensland.

"We just ask the cricket community for some patience as we work through a range of scenarios in full consultation with the players, the Indian Board, the ICC and our broadcasters.

"We hope to resolve all matters in the next few days and will let cricket fans and the game's many important stakeholders know as a priority."

Hughes' funeral will be held at the Sports Hall of the Macksville High School, the school where he studied as a youngster, before his switch to Sydney to become a cricketer.

"We are grateful to the Australian community for the overwhelming show of support it has extended to the Hughes family in recent days," Sutherland added. "The offers of assistance for Wednesday's service have been remarkable.

"While we know that people from all around the nation want to pay their respects to Phillip, there will only be limited capacity in Macksville, so the work of our broadcasters will help ensure people around the country can follow the service on TV, radio and online."