Batsmen can lessen the impact and also make sure that the ball does not bounce in the air by loosening their grip on the bat. That lesson came  by accident in the infamous Test match at Sabina park, Kingston, Jamaica when the West Indian attack led by Michael Holding, Wayne Daniel and company were bowling five bouncers an over and a beamer as the sixth ball every other over. 

The fingers had taken such a battering and were benumbed that it was hard to even grip the bat. But, lo and behold, what was discovered was that if the ball hit the gloves it would drop down vertically and not lob up in the air as there was no resistance with the grip, since the fingers had no strength to hold the bat. 

It was a discovery entirely by accident, and even though it meant that the bat was also being knocked out of the hands a few times because of the extremely loose grip, at least the ball was not catchable.

Hughes’ death tells us that while players tend to play as if it is a matter of life and death, when life is taken away, it simply does not matter who wins or loses the game. Hopefully it will change the perspective of the modern player and make him realise that, after all, it’s just a sport, and therefore it makes little sense to indulge in the kind of gamesmanship that engenders bad feeling. 

Look at the way the entire cricketing community has come together at this sad moment in the game, so why spoil it by ugly gamesmanship?

On the field, Bangladesh are winning everything against Zimbabwe and are looking at a one-day series whitewash too. Shakib Al Hasan has been outstanding with both bat and ball, and he pips Australian Steve Smith to be the Ceat International cricketer of the week.