Ian Chappell believes that Australia should play in the first Test against India next week, despite the sudden death of batsman Phil Hughes.

The 25-year-old, who was believed to have been in contention for a place at the Gabba on December 4, passed away two days after being hit on the neck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield fixture in Sydney.

However, despite calls for the game to be postponed, Chappell has suggested that Hughes would want Australia to play on rather than cancel the Test in Brisbane.

He is quoted by The West Australian as saying: "In a strange way it will be probably the best thing that they go out to train and play in a game.

"At least while you are on the field or in the nets you will have something else to concentrate on. Every moment you are off the field you are going to be thinking about Phillip Hughes and what happened.

"It was the right thing to do to cancel the shield round but I think Phillip would want the game to go on."

Hughes made his debut for Australia in 2009 and played in 26 Tests.