New Zealand cricket team captain Brendon McCullum has said that the reality of their remarkable third Test win over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates would only come with time as the team continues to struggle with the passing of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.
New Zealand squared the series one-all with Pakistan on Sunday, winning the third Test in Sharjah by an innings and 80 runs.
After mounting an incredible first innings 690 in reply to Pakistan's 351, New Zealand dismissed Pakistan for 259 with an hour to spare on the fourth day. Spinner Mark Craig finished with match figures of 10-203 to be named man of the match, Stuff.co.nz reported.
The Test was set against the backdrop of the passing of Hughes, resulting in the second day's play being postponed.
During the match New Zealand's bowlers dialed back on the bouncers and McCullum, who seemed deeply affected, left the helmeted short leg fielding position vacant.
McCullum said that for the team to overcome the emotional hurdles involved made him very proud and he was sure one of New Zealand's greatest victories overseas would be recognised accordingly in due course.
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Right now, things were still too raw to allow that.
The skipper, with emotions still clearly hanging heavily over him and his team, said that they played a really good Test match after being so far behind on day one, adding that he is really proud of the guys.
McCullum said that they stuck together on the field and off it as well during these tough circumstances. He admitted that it wasn't going to be easy and it certainly wasn't easy.
McCullum said that they are nowhere nearly as affected as the guys back in Australia are, but added that at the same time cricket is a community and a family and they lost one of their own even though he was from a different country.
McCullum said that it hit the guys hard and they just tried to stay tight as a group. He added that they stayed together off the field at night times, they talked through stuff and shared one another's thoughts and got round one another as well.