Black Caps' grief for Phillip Hughes produces rock'n'roll cricket played to silent soundtrack

This was sport, but not as we know it.

Mark Craig, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and the rest of their teammates yesterday combined to produce one of New Zealand's most remarkable days of test cricket - and not one of them wanted to be there.

This was rock 'n' roll cricket played to a silent soundtrack.

MORE: Mike Hesson on Phillip Hughes tragedy: 'Our players have been struggling'

Craig, plucked from domestic obscurity earlier this year, channelled the greats of his art to rip through Pakistan's order to the tune of 7-94 - the "hosts" collapsing from 285-3 to 351 all out. Each wicket was accompanied by guilty smiles, dutiful high-fives and handshakes and, no doubt, a thousand thoughts for mates gathered in Sydney.

As it was, Craig's heroics were mere table-setting. Enter McCullum and, a short while later, Williamson. Both were visibly distraught in the moments before the day's play, when the teams gathered to offer poignant tributes to Phillip Hughes, the Australian opener who died after being struck by a bouncer in Sydney this week.

Williamson batted with carefree, technically-sound brilliance to reach stumps unbeaten on 76. He was the perfect pillion passenger in a stand of 198, but there was no doubting who was driving this partnership.

McCullum batted with belligerence. He didn't want to be there but, if he had to, he was going to do it his way. His 50 came off 30 balls, his 100 off 78, the fastest in New Zealand test history. His third 50 was more prosaic but, by then, he looked emotionally and physically spent.

It was a sensational innings and one he might look back on with pride. But not yet. It's too soon.

New Zealand's cricketers shed tears as they...

by PTVSports

You can debate the merits of continuing this test as long as you like, but there is no wrong or right answer. You can't tell people how to grieve.
If the New Zealanders chose to cope by playing without care, with an almost reckless abandon, so be it.

By doing so, they've improbably given themselves a chance to win a test - something nobody thought possible after day one. They've just provided one of the most unforgettable days in New Zealand cricket history.

Not that they care.