Playing the Test the best way to honour Hughes

"The world will be a different place."

Those words were uttered by a softly spoken ex-army Englishman who was reflecting on the devastating events of 9/11. Similar words could well be appropriate for the cricket world after the tragic accident at the SCG that took the life of young Phillip Hughes.

Up until November 27, 2014, every player knew that an accident could occur on the cricket field and someone could be hurt. However, no one expected a death from an on-field injury. But now, tragically, we all know different.

There will be calls for the bouncer to be banned and for helmets to be improved. The bouncer will remain an integral part of the game and evolution will see an improvement in helmets, but injuries will continue to occur. Hopefully not of the magnitude of Hughes' freak accident, for it has been a hard one to bear.

Hughes had a technique that was different but a style that excited. Like all batsmen he needed a bit of good fortune to prosper but his luck ran out on Tuesday at the SCG. So many batsmen have been hit or have experienced a near miss but they have been able to brush it off and resume the battle. A lot of cricketers will be mindful of that second chance, which Phil Hughes was so cruelly denied.

Many bowlers have had the stomach-churning experience of hitting a batsman. However, they have had the chance to make amends after play and resume the battle at a later stage. Sean Abbott was not so fortunate. No one can imagine what he's going through, and for him bowling a bouncer will never be the same again. He'll have many well-meaning people offering counsel and this will be helpful, but in the end, it's he who has to find a way to cope. It won't be easy.

How will cricketers react to Phillip Hughes' death? We'll only get an inkling at the Gabba, when the first Test is played between Australia and India. The game should be played as planned, because, in a strange way, it'll be the best thing for the players. At least when they are in the nets or out in the middle they'll have something else to absorb their concentration. You can bet when they are sitting in the dressing room or alone in their hotel room, they will only be thinking of one thing - Phillip Hughes.

The cricket at the Gabba won't be played with the usual intensity but it will probably be the best therapy for all the players. The bouncers won't stop. They will still be unleashed to put some doubt in the batsman's mind. However, I doubt they will be delivered with the same venom in the immediate aftermath of the SCG calamity.

It's only natural for a bowler to be hesitant when unleashing a short-pitched delivery with the ghastly reminder of the consequences of bad luck still fresh in the memory. This hesitancy will affect the Australian fast bowlers more than the Indian attack. The bouncer was expected to be a prime weapon of an Australian attack better equipped to dish out intimidating deliveries. With no bowler wanting to hit a batsman in these circumstances, this will have a greater effect on the Australian attack.

How will the batsmen react? There probably won't be any noticeable change. Batsmen have always known they could be hurt but they usually shrug it off with the thought that "it won't happen to me". Still, there will be apprehension, but the best players have an amazing ability to compartmentalise things and concentrate purely on the job at hand. They will be the ones who cope best.

For all players, but especially the Australians, this will be an extremely difficult Test match. They will be grieving but they will also want to win the match as a tribute to their fallen comrade. And indeed, that would be the best way to honour a team-mate who was much loved but suffered the unlucky fate that until November 27 remained unspoken among cricketers.