Australia-India first Test moved to Adelaide

SYDNEY: Australia´s four-Test series against India will now start in Adelaide on December 9 after Cricket Australia on Monday reworked the schedule following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

The opening clash between the teams was due to start on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane but was put off following the death of Hughes in a freak on-field incident, with skipper Michael Clarke admitting his players were emotionally shattered.

Hughes died last Thursday from bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, throwing the cricketing world into mourning.

India were scheduled to travel to Brisbane on Monday to prepare for the Test, but they remained in Adelaide, effectively ending any hopes that the Gabba Test may be pushed back by one or two days.

With Hughes´ funeral scheduled for Wednesday in his home town of Macksville, Cricket Australia Monday night listed a change of dates on its website, with Adelaide Oval now hosting the first Test.

Instead of starting on Friday, December 12 - as the second Test originally slated for Adelaide was scheduled to - it will begin on December 9.

This is seen as a fitting venue for the new first Test given it was Hughes´ adopted home ground for the past two summers with South Australia.

Such a shift will allow the second Test to be played in Brisbane from December 17-21 with the traditional Boxing Day clash in Melbourne remaining unchanged, while the Sydney Test has been pushed back three days and will now start on January 6.

Listing of the new fixtures followed lengthy discussions between Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and other stakeholders including broadcast partners.

The decision to move the Brisbane game comes as no surprise with cricket officials making clear the welfare of those mourning Hughes was the priority.

The tragedy has deeply shaken the world cricket community, particularly in Australia where the sport is considered the national game. Flags have been flown at half mast and bats left outside front doors as a mark of respect.

New Test dates, according to an updated fixture list on the Cricket Australia website:
Adelaide Oval: December 9-13; Gabba, Brisbane: December 17-21; Melbourne Cricket Ground: December 26-30; Sydney Cricket Ground: January 6-10. (AFP)