Martin Crowe to be inducted in ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

 New Zealand great Martin Crowe will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame during the World Cup match between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park, here on Saturday.

Crowe, 52, who is bravely fighting a relapse of a rare blood cancer disease, will be the third cricketer after India's Anil Kumble and and Australia's Betty Wilson to be inducted into the Hall of Fame during this edition of the 50-over showpiece event. Kumble and Wilson were given the honour last week in Melbourne.

When Crowe receives his commemorative cap from ICC Director and Chairman of Cricket Australia Wally Edwards, during the innings break, he will become the 79th inductee into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and third New Zealand player after Sir Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley.

Crowe, one of the most stylish and elegant batsman of his generation, made his international debut against Australia in Wellington in February 1982 at the age of 19.

He retired 13 years later after playing 77 Tests, scoring 5,444 at an average of 45.36. This included 17 centuries, the most by a New Zealand cricketer, while his 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 1991 stood as a national record until Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India in Wellington last year in February.

Crowe also played 143 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in which he scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries and 34 half-centuries.

He played in three 50-over World Cups, and led New Zealand to the semi-final of the 1992 edition where his side lost to eventual champions Pakistan in Auckland. However, his innovative captaincy and most runs in the series won him player of tournament award.

Crowe captained New Zealand in 16 Tests and 44 ODIs.Overall, Crowe played 247 first-class matches in a 17-year career in which he scored 19,608 runs with 71 centuries and 80 half-centuries. Apart from representing New Zealand, he also played for Auckland, Central Districts, Somerset and Wellington.