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Phillip Hughes’ death: What happens to India vs Australia Test series?

Hughes was about to make his comeback. His departure is harrowing.

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Phil Hughes was due to celebrate his 26th birthday this weekend © Getty Images
Phillip Hughes was a frontrunner to play the first Test against India at the Gabba © Getty Images

Phil Hughes’ demise has shocked the cricketing fraternity the world over. The first Test between India and Australia is set to begin at the Gabba next week. Varun Arora writes about the possible impact of the incident on the upcoming Test series.

India and Australia were all set for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Verbal battles had already started. Preparations were in full flow. Glenn McGrath had already been on the mental disintegration mission. India had also featured in the tour game against Cricket Australia XI and fared quite well in the two-day game.

On Thursday, when the Indian team was training in Adelaide and rehearsing for the big battle which was due to start at Gabba next week an awful news came in. The 25-year-old Hughes had passed away.  Hughes who was hit by a rising bouncer by Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield match at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) had breathed his last in a Sydney hospital.

The condolences started to flow in, Virat Kohli wrote on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened by the news of Phil Hughes. Horrible day for cricket. RIP Phil and may your family gain the strength to cope”; Suresh Raina also tweeted: “Shocked and saddened. Phil Hughes you will live on in our hearts. RIP worst day in world cricket #peace #PhilHughes.”

In a matter of few hours, Twitter was loaded with grief messages and shock statements. Cricket Australia (CA) also cancelled the second tour game which was due to start on Friday. Earlier, the second day of the third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand had been called off due to the sickening news of Hughes’ death.

Now, what happens to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Hughes was about to make his comeback. His departure is harrowing. It will not be easy for the fellow Australian cricketers to overcome his sudden demise, especially for those who have shared the dressing room with him for many years both in the domestic and international level.

The incident has also shaken the entire nation. The atmosphere is curtained with gloom; inconsolable tears flow; the entire cricket fraternity has expressed shock and grief on Hughes’ death. The India team will definitely be passing through a similar mental state the mournful wind. The first Test starts in exactly a week; even if it starts, the intensity will definitely be less, especially at a time when CA is counselling the players to recover the deep shock it will be harsh for them to come up with a spirited show.

For David Warner, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon it would take a bit longer to recover as they were part of the New South Wales (NSW) team which was playing the Sheffield Shield match during which Hughes was injured.

Australian cricketers have been present for hours at the St Vincent’s Hospital where Hughes spent his last moments. They have stood by the walls of the hospital praying for Hughes to recover. The sore memories of the incident are not likely to heal immediately.

It will be a serious test for the Australian team when they will step on the ground to play next time. They will grit it out for Hughes. The sights of the cricket pitch may bring the gruesome memory, but they must continue to play for their mate. That will probably be their greatest tribute to Hughesy.

Complete coverage of Phillip Hughes’ tragic demise

(Varun Arora is a reporter with CricketCountry. He started as a medium-fast bowler, converted to an opening batsman but finally settled with his passion of writing about the game. His Twitter handle is @varunjgd)

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