Life is uncertain and lot of
things can happen suddenly – Phil Hughes is a grim reminder.
Now after lot of
uncertainty, the Adelaide Test has been
confirmed as the first match of the Australia-India series and is set to begin
on December 9th, three days earlier than originally scheduled. The
Brisbane Test will be shifted to second in the series and will begin on
December 17, and the Sydney Test will be pushed back by three days to allow the
players extra recovery time during a condensed, reworked four-Test schedule. The
changes were reported by host broadcaster Channel Nine. Under the new schedule,
the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne will be the only match of the series to retain
its original dates. The rescheduling
will affect the first two matches of the one-day tri-series in January too. The
series was to begin at the MCG on January 16 with a clash between Australia and
India, before Australia played England at the SCG on January 18. However, those
two matches have now traded places in the schedule, with Australia-England in
Sydney to begin the series on January 16, followed by Australia-India in
Melbourne on January 18.
The Brisbane Test was to
begin on 4th of Dec 2014 stands postponed due to the funeral for
Phillip Hughes, which will take place in his hometown of Macksville on
Wednesday. The five-day delay to the
start of the Test series can also impact the composition of the teams. Earlier, Indian captain MS Dhoni had been
ruled out of the first Test at the Gabba due to an injury to his right thumb
and Australia's captain Michael Clarke seemed certain to miss due to a
hamstring injury. However, both men will now have extra recovery time ahead of
the new first Test.
Cricket Australia said that
pre-purchased tickets for the first two ODIs would be honoured, and full
refunds would also be available. Dhoni is set to join the India squad on
December 5 but his participation in the Adelaide Test is not a certainty. Dhoni
was to be rested for the first Test can play at Adelaide as he would be there
in time – but if he prefers to sit out still, Virat Kohli would lead and Wriddhiman
Saha would keep.
Back home, the swashbuckler Virender
Sehwag is still hopeful of playing in World Cup despite last playing for the
Nation way back in Mar 2013. It appears that retirement is not on his mind and
he is hopeful of featuring in India's list of World Cup probables and possibly,
playing the tournament. Strange, considering the fact that he is not playing
for local side in his usual role. Last
month, Sehwag made himself unavailable for the Deodhar Trophy, reportedly to
offer more opportunities to youngsters from the North Zone.
We love Sehwag
and remember the great knocks he played especially at Multan and at Adelaide –
yet, the chances of his making a comeback does not sound realistic !!
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
2nd Dec 2014.
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