Cricket Australia to consult Phil Hughes’ family on decision to play India vs Australia first Test

The uncertainty over the first Test between India and Australia still continues following the sudden demise of cricketer Phil Hughes on Thursday.

Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard said, “Today’s about grieving … how you move forward.”

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“Day by day, not anything further than that. We need to be in a position when players can make strong choices. That’s not now. We’re going to focus on people first, then the cricket.”

Howard said that Hughes’ family will be consulted if and then the decision will be made. The memorial and funeral plans will decide the fate of the first Test.

At a press conference held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday, Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer (CEO) James Sutherland said that it was not the right time to discuss such stuff.

“We all love cricket and nobody loves cricket more than Phillip. Cricket will go on and it will go on when we’re ready,” Sutherland was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia’s official website.

“We haven’t broached the subject with the players yet – we will in time.

“But, to be honest, they’ve got other things on their mind.

“They’re grieving and they’ve lost someone that’s incredibly close to them.

“It’s really important to give people time and people will respond in different ways to what they’re going through.”

Hughes succumbed to his death after sustaining injuries on his head during a Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday.

The cricketer’s friends and family visited the SCG to mourn the loss.

“There was some great stories being told and a quite a lot of laughter about the cheeky little boy who came down from Macksville and had the highest ambitions for himself and his cricket game,” Sutherland said.

The Australian cricketers are severely affected by the loss of Hughes and there is a question mark over the first Test, scheduled to start in Brisbane on Thursday.

Brad Haddin, David Warner, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon were present with Hughes, when he got injured at the SCG.