Mudasir 4K
Member
- Joined
- 25 Dec 2012
- Messages
- 646
- Reaction score
- 288
NEW ZEALAND’S cricketers shed tears as they gathered to observe a minute’s silence for the late Phillip Hughes prior to play on the second day of the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah.
All-rounder Kane Williamson and several teammates appeared visibly distressed as the Black Caps gathered in a huddle on the edge of the outfield to remember Hughes.
Brendon McCullum, who opened the batting with Hughes for New South Wales in 2009, is also understood to be distraught.
Players from both side presented their bats along the edge of the outfield as part of the global #putoutyourbats tribute and the Kiwis penned the initials P.H. on their shirts.
In another moving touch, the New Zealand players chose to wear their training caps onto the field so their official ‘baggy blacks’ could rest on top of their bats on the sidelines.
New Zealand and Pakistan agreed to suspend play on Thursday with players too shaken to take the field.
The players didn’t find out about Phil’s passing until they arrived at the ground yesterday,” said Heath Mills, the chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association. “They were in a state of shock about it. There was no way they could have taken the field.
“A number of them have played alongside him in domestic teams around the world. It’s a small community professional cricket, so our guys are hurting. They’re doing it tough at the moment.
“The guys have been thinking ‘that could have been me. That could have been someone I’m bowling to’. The bowlers have been thinking long and hard about bouncers.”
The Black Caps remained in a sombre mood after Tim Southee dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq early on day two, with celebrations of the wicket extremely muted.
All-rounder Kane Williamson and several teammates appeared visibly distressed as the Black Caps gathered in a huddle on the edge of the outfield to remember Hughes.
Brendon McCullum, who opened the batting with Hughes for New South Wales in 2009, is also understood to be distraught.
Players from both side presented their bats along the edge of the outfield as part of the global #putoutyourbats tribute and the Kiwis penned the initials P.H. on their shirts.
In another moving touch, the New Zealand players chose to wear their training caps onto the field so their official ‘baggy blacks’ could rest on top of their bats on the sidelines.
New Zealand and Pakistan agreed to suspend play on Thursday with players too shaken to take the field.
The players didn’t find out about Phil’s passing until they arrived at the ground yesterday,” said Heath Mills, the chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association. “They were in a state of shock about it. There was no way they could have taken the field.
“A number of them have played alongside him in domestic teams around the world. It’s a small community professional cricket, so our guys are hurting. They’re doing it tough at the moment.
“The guys have been thinking ‘that could have been me. That could have been someone I’m bowling to’. The bowlers have been thinking long and hard about bouncers.”
The Black Caps remained in a sombre mood after Tim Southee dismissed Misbah-ul-Haq early on day two, with celebrations of the wicket extremely muted.
