There was the 302 under pressure against India last summer and the 158 off 73 balls which secured the future of the Indian Premier League in the opening match.
However, the depth of emotion, fury and determination embedded in this latest escapade, after the death of his former New South Wales opening batting partner Phil Hughes, is going to take some beating.
The New Zealand team couldn't ask for better leadership in such trying circumstances.
The skipper had eked out 18, 39, 43 and 45 across the series, struggling in particular against the spinners. His 10th test century, 153 not out off 145 balls, left the impression he was hitting the ball off a tee.
Kane Williamson, another with close Hughes links from the English county circuit, will continue on 76 as part of a 198-run second wicket partnership which took New Zealand to 249 for one, 102 runs behind Pakistan.
Earlier, if a shred of satisfaction was to be derived from this futile exercise, it came from off spinner Mark Craig who took his maiden test five-wicket bag. His seven for 94 were the 13th best figures by a New Zealand bowler and 3rd best by a spinner or a New Zealander against Pakistan.
The visitors took seven wickets for 70 in the opening session.
New Zealand had sought to abandon the test as a mark of respect to Hughes. Their subdued on-field demeanour indicated they were going through the motions.
Yet somehow this duress brought about three consecutive sessions of dominance which any country in the world would be proud of. The fact the cricket suddenly seemed inconsequential in the greater scheme of life decanted an essence of simplicity. Call it 'see ball-hit ball' when it came to McCullum or 'flight-ball-create-catches' in relation to Craig.
The grief generated by Hughes' death after he was hit by a bouncer in an Australian first-class match appeared to help the New Zealanders channel their shock. The boosted crowd (Friday is the start of the weekend in the UAE) also gradually diluted what started as a hollow, haunting atmosphere.
Images can be so much more powerful than words and it's hard to think of a more poignant mark of respect to Hughes, than the Pakistanis and New Zealanders resting their respective green and black caps on their bats before the start of the play.
The put-out-your-bats tribute has been a masterstroke; a minute's silence sustained the surreal air.
The flipside to the gesture is that the New Zealanders understandably did not want to be there. The adorning of their one-day caps could be construed as a silent protest. The players also etched the initials 'PH' underneath the silver ferns on their shirts.
The Herald understands concerted efforts were made to end the test, but compromise was eventually reached among the officials of both countries.
Tim Southee's dismissal of Misbah-ul-Haq in the fourth over of the morning was a prime example of the charade. If you hadn't observed the ball pick up the edge, the assumption would be Misbah was shuffling off to get new gloves.
There was barely a whoop or a holler as the ball deviated and B-J Watling took the catch. The apathy was palpable; the body language devoid of enthusiasm.
Likewise, Boult took a candidate for cricket's most undemonstrative catch, reverse-cupping a skyer from Mohammad Hafeez at deep mid-wicket off Ish Sodhi. Hafeez's 197 was his highest test score. Muted responses followed each of the seven wickets, even Ross Taylor's 100th test catch off Rahat Ali.
That's been the Hughes effect. The raw reality that someone of his batting ability can die at first-class level has sobered all concerned. Inevitably they must think of their own close shaves dodging 156g leather missiles through the years. The conclusion no doubt ringing in their ears is: 'That could've been me.' In contrast there were no bouncers delivered by the New Zealand bowlers; they're feeling this too, in what is effectively a grieving period.
ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES
- Herald on Sunday
