Australian quick Ryan Harris says no player will know if he’s ready for the first Test against India until the whole team regroups in Adelaide after Phillip Hughes’ funeral on Wednesday.
Harris echoed Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland’s call on Tuesday that it was too early to speculate which players would take the field for the re-scheduled first Test next Tuesday.
CA confirmed a series of date changes to Australia’s four-Test series against India on Monday night, prompted by Hughes’ tragic death.
Adelaide Oval will now host the postponed first Test, with the game to start at Hughes’ adopted home ground two weeks after the 25-year-old was felled by a bouncer.
Harris said the players’ mindset may switch back to cricket when they are reunited as a group in Adelaide on Thursday.
However, the Test speedster admitted it would depend on how they backed up from an emotional farewell to Hughes in his hometown Macksville on Wednesday.
“Let’s get through that first. It’s going to be pretty bloody hard,” Harris told reporters in Brisbane.
“It might be a bit of closure or it might take longer.
“The thing is no one knows. No one has been in this situation before losing a teammate, and a very good mate, and trying to play a cricket game less than a week later.”
But he added: “I think it will be really good to get together as a group again in Adelaide and support each other.
“If guys are unsure they might be able to talk it out or get a cricket bat in their hands and see how they go (in Adelaide) – we will wait and see.”
Harris admitted players would “probably like a bit longer” to mourn Hughes before playing.
“But that is reality. There’s a Test series on and there are games to be played, that’s what we have to prepare for,” he said.
“But at least we have a date to work towards.”
Sutherland, speaking on Tuesday en route to Macksville, said it would be up to each squad member to decide whether he’s ready for the first Test.
“Any player that is not comfortable or doesn’t feel right, or there is medical advice to suggest they’re not quite right, then we will obviously understand that,” he said.
“I’m sure the broader public will understand that as well.
“Understand that we and the Australian Cricketers’ Association will be supporting them and nobody will think ill of anyone who feels uncomfortable about it.”
Test players David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin and Nathan Lyon were in the field during last Tuesday’s freak accident at the SCG.
Captain Michael Clarke, who last week was set to be scratched from the Test squad because of his hamstring injury, will desperately want to be on the field to help support teammates.
“I’d just encourage everyone to give the players their space,” Sutherland said.
“Let them, in their own way, work through it.”
