New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe

New Zealand Cricket Great Martin Crowe has died at the age of 53. His family in Auckland announced his death in a statement.

“It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE advise his death,” said the statement.

The former Black Caps captain had been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in October 2012. He underwent treatment but the cancer returned in September 2014.

Russell Crowe paid tribute to his cousin online.

“My champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever. RIP M.D.Crowe,” he tweeted.

Martin Crowe was considered one of the greatest batsmen of his generation. He scored 17 centuries in 77 Tests for New Zealand and 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 in one-day internationals.

The cricketer was awarded an MBE for his services to cricket and was named New Zealand sportsman of the year in 1991.

“In 2015 he was inducted in the ICC hall of fame and received an emotional standing ovation at Eden Park during the World Cup pool match between the Black Caps and Australia,” as reported in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Even after he stopped playing cricket, Crowe’s influence in New Zealand cricket continued as mentor to Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor. According to McCullum he had been invaluable in working on the batting of senior batsmen Taylor and Guptill.

Martin Crowe was born in Henderson, New Zealand. He made his cricket debut for New Zealand in 1982 when he was 19 and made “a considerable mark both on and off the pitch as a cricketer, commentator and author,” as stated in an article on Cricket.com.au.

Article Source: The Guardian, March 3, 2016.

Image Source: Twitter – ICC