There is something incredibly poignant about the raft of #putoutyourbats pictures on Twitter. As well as being a show of solidarity – proof of a cricket community – something about the single bats, in particular, are a reminder of the loneliness and fragility of batting. It was a  tweet from Sachin Tendulkar that really got me: “My bat when I was 25. RIP Phil. #putoutyourbats”. The battered bat in the picture bore testament to the hardness of a cricket ball, and to think that Tendulkar played for a further 15 years… It is just so unutterably tragic. And it’s said that cricket is a batsman’s game…

It is. It should continue to be thought of as such. This was a freakishly rare accident. Cricket has never been safer. It is safe enough. Dangerous enough, too, because cricket without fast bowling – without aggression, bouncers, and the element of fear – would not be cricket. It’s all part of the game, just as death is part of life. If that sounds harsh, it is because it ignores the most important aspect of cricket: the cricketers.

Cricket shouldn’t change, but cricketers: how can we stay the same? The hurdles to overcome are psychological. Oddly enough, the hurdles will probably be greater for fast bowlers. Fear of killing is worse than fear of being killed, I suspect. I haven’t once considered giving up batting. Equally, I intend to continue batting in a cap. I have been proud of the fact I have never batted in a helmet, but pride has rarely seemed so foolish now. Nothing has changed, however. Wickets in Cambridgeshire will remain slow and low. Bowlers at club level won’t bowl any quicker. I’ve never felt in physical danger before. If anything, I hope this horrific incident will make me watch the ball – respect the inherent danger of batting – even more.

Not for the first time I am glad not to be a bowler. Any bowler, let alone Sean Abbott. I can’t begin to imagine just how wretched he feels, and I wouldn’t blame him for never wanting to bowl another ball. How do you not feel guilty? How do you tell yourself that the possibility of a repeat is next to impossible? How do you regain a trust in (and love of) cricket? Next week’s Australia-India Test must be in doubt. Australian players will need time to grieve. Playing cricket will be part of that process, but not yet.

RIP Phil Hughes; Long Live Cricket.