There isn't much we can do as New Zealanders to offer support or fully come to grips with the passing of Phillip Hughes, but luckily we have a leader who took it upon himself to pay tribute. He paid the perfect tribute, not just a fine innings but an innings where Brendon McCullum smashed it to all parts. Runs flowed all around the wicket with McCullum simply doing what he does.

We share a special bond with our trans-Tasman friends. They are our rival, but at the end of the day they are our big brothers, folks who share a similar perspective on the world as well as being awesome at sport. Hence it was fitting that McCullum put on such a display.

Before McCullum came to the crease, Mark Craig had torn through Pakistan's lower order. The flight and subtle variations of Craig were too much for the batsmen, his performance was another tribute. 7/94, a fantastic performance from Craig and exactly what the Black Caps were after as they chase a win despite a mere sporting contest holding little importance.

It was pretty close to a perfect day's cricket for the Black Caps. They bowled Pakistan out for 351 and are now 249/1, they appear to have learned a lot over the past few weeks and with the way skipper B-Mac and Kane Williamson batted, they have shown they are well and truly good enough.

While McCullum's innings was sublime, Williamson's was equally amazing. As McCullum blazed a trail, Williamson swiftly followed in behind him rotating the strike and cracking boundaries. This is the Williamson we love.

It is also the McCullum we love. The swashbuckler. It's the Black Caps we love, this is what they are capable of.

It was hard to watch the day's play, sombre in nature but you had to. It was a terrific example of our leader, our guy putting the cricketing world on his shoulders and saying 'come with me'.