Former New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe passes away : Former New Zealand skipper, passed away day at Auckland. He was 53.
The legendary skipper, writer, broadcaster, was suffering from lymphoma since 2012.
A statement released by the family stated. “It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE, advise his death. Diagnosed in September 2014 with terminal double hit lymphoma he passed away peacefully today, Thursday 3rd March in Auckland surrounded by family”.
“The family request privacy at this time.”
Perhaps the best ever batsman to emerge from New Zealand, Martin broke several batting records despite fighting a spate of injuries. He was an innovative thinker. He came up with the ‘out of the box’ idea of opening the bowling attack with Dipak Patel in the opening match of the 1992 World Cup against Australia.
Making his Test debut on 26th February, 1982, against Australia at Basin Reserve, he had featured in 77 Test matches (131 innings, remaining unbeaten on 11 occasions) scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.37 with 299 as his highest. He had 17 centuries (one 200) and 18 half-centuries to his credit.
His personal best (299) came in the second innings of the drawn first Test against Sri Lanka played at Basin Reserve, Wellington in Jan-Feb 1991.
It was a match saving knock when, in response to Kiwi’s first innings total of 174 runs, the Lankans had piled up 497 runs and had taken a crucial lead of 323 runs.
Martin Crowe, captaining the team, played a stellar knock scoring 299 runs off 523 deliveries with 29 fours and 3 sixes in an innings that lasted a little over 6 hours (610 minutes).
He was also involved in a third-wicket partnership of 467 runs alongwith Andrew Jones (186) and helped his team save the Test match. Crowe was awarded the Player of the Match.Crowe had also picked up 14 Test wickets.
He played his last Test match against India in November, 1995.
Crowe had featured in 143 ODI matches (140 innings), having made his debut against Australia, at Eden Park on 13th February, 1982.
He had scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.24 with an unbeaten 107* runs as his personal best. Scoring at a strike rate of 72.64 he also had 4 centuries and 34 half-centuries to his credit.
His personal best score came in the first game of the six-match series against India, on 15th November, 1995, played at the Keenan Stadium, Jamshedpur.
Chasing a target of 237 set by India, Crowe, alongwith Stephen Fleming (78*) added 171 runs for the third wicket and remained unbeaten on 107* runs off 129 deliveries with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
This helped Kiwis reach the target in 46.5 overs and win the game by 8 wickets with 19 deliveries to spare.
Crowe was awarded the Player of the Match.
He had also picked up 29 ODI wickets.
He played his last ODI against India on 26th November 1995.
Post retirement, Crowe helped develop a local variation of cricket, called “Cricket Max”. He was also a television commentator. He was a member of the board in a Rugby League Football Club.
Crowe was also roped in as the CEO of the management team of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Later on Crowe parted ways with the team.
Martin Crowe is survived by his second wife Lorraine Downes, daughter Emma and step-children Hilton and Jasmine.
