A lot has been made about the leadership of Michael Clarke following the passing of Phillip Hughes, understandably so. He's done a fantastic job of ensuring that everyone is looked after, that his players are able to grieve and he's simply been an inspiration. The same situation has brought to light similar traits found in our cricketing leader Brendon McCullum.

Both leaders have lead in such a manner that it simply leaves you in awe. Clarke has obviously have the tougher task, he's not only lost a team mate but also a close friend which has meant that he has had to grieve and lead at the same time. That's not easy, it's also not an easy task when your team was only days away from the start of a cricket series. Clarke has had to juggle many different cricket balls over the past week, to near perfection.

Clarke has had to do his leading off the field, which given that he is the captain of a sports team isn't always an easy task. Leading with the bat and inspiring his troops to perform at their best all the time is meat and drink for Clarke, trying to help his comrades grieve as well as ensuring someone like Sean Abbott is ok, isn't exactly what he signed up for. That's the mark of the man, he has gone above and beyond what is expected of him ... maybe it is what's expected of the Australian Cricket captain and we just haven't witnessed the situation before.

McCullum hasn't had as complicated a task, but has shown what a great leader he is. His job was different, somehow play a game of cricket. It was clear when the Black Caps took the field on the 2nd day, that Hughes wasn't just another cricketer - he was someone who had made an impact on different levels with the Black Caps. Daniel Vettori's quote after the win over Pakistan made that much clearer and McCullum had every reason to be distraught as he was one of the Kiwis who knew Hughes the best.

McCullum not only got his team on the field, but he took it upon himself to pay tribute. He did so in a manner that only he can, adopting the same style that has led many apparent cricket fans to call for him to be dropped. He's an attacker, he attacks, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but it was always going to work this time around.

McCullum doesn't need to get runs, if he does, they are a bonus. He's our captain, he's the best captain we have by far and this past week has only reinforced this for me. As a fan, I'd follow McCullum in to battle and he has inspired his troops to a great test win over Pakistan and a drawn series. 'Follow the leader' is usually used in jest, but the Black Caps simply followed their leader in to a dark cave, with McCullum holding the torch in one hand and his bat in the other.

Both Clarke and McCullum have faced copious amounts of adversity not only over the past week, but also throughout their careers. They have as many haters as they do admirers, but they have always found a way to endure. They have once again had to endure some tough times, but they have done so in a way that should only serve to inspire - inspire their team mates, the cricketing world and their nations.