Martin Crowe dies aged 53

Auckland-born, Martin David Crowe 53, former New Zealand batsman and cricket commentator dies of cancer of the immune system, suffering from Lymphoma.

New Zealand’s one of the best players, scoring 17 centuries and 5,444 runs in 77 tests at an average of 45.36.

The right-hander Crowe captained the Kiwis in 16 Test matches, scored five centuries against England, with his 142 at Lord’s in 1994 described as the best technical innings and his highest score was 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1991. He was also named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1985, and was player of the tournament at the 1992 World Cup, scoring 456 runs in nine matches. He was competent and was a master at dissecting blowers, born in 1962.

Speaking in 2008, he said: “The greatest skill you have as a batsman is the ability to see the ball out of the hand. Once you do that, you have created time and are getting information instinctively, processing it and making a decision on what to do. If you see it early you have time, but if you see it late, you tend to play it early because you are searching for the ball. You are not decisive. This differentiates a very good player from a not-so-good player”.

Crowe  was regarded as pioneer having invented Cricket Max a precursor to Twenty20 and he delivered the MCC’s prestigious Spirit of Cricket Lecture in 2006.

New Zealand cricket is deeply saddened at the passing of their country’s greatest batsman. He is survived by wife Lorraine Downes, Daughter Emma, Step-children Hilton, Jasmine and his cousin actor Russell Crowe paid tribute on Twitter calling him “My champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever. RIP M.D. Crowe.”