Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe dies at 53 Thursday March 03,2016 .

 

Martin Crowe was born on September 22, 1962, Henderson, Auckland.

• made his international debut in 1982

• captained New Zealand in 16 Test matches and his highest score was 299.
• scored 17 centuries and 5,444 runs in 77 Tests at an average of 45.36

• had been suffering from lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, for a second time
• survived by his second wife Lorraine Downes, daughter Emma and step-children Hilton and Jasmine.  

Martin Crowe(53)a cricketer of prodigious talent who made batting appear effortless while secretly struggling with the burden of being a world-class player in otherwise modest New Zealand teams, died of cancer Thursday March 03,2016

Martin Crowe is survived by his wife, 1983 Miss Universe winner Lorraine Downes, and two stepchildren

Martin Crowe was first diagnosed with aggressive follicular lymphoma in 2012 and after chemotherapy, he was thought to be in remission. But Crowe announced in September 2014 that the cancer, which he called "my friend and tough taskmaster," had returned.

In a statement, his family said "it is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe advise his death. The family request privacy at this time."Crowe played 77 tests and 143 one-day internationals for New Zealand in a 13-year career. He scored 5,444 test runs at an average of 45.36 with 17 centuries

Martin Crowe preceded older brother Jeff into the New Zealand teams in 1982, at age 19, having played almost three years of first-class cricket that established his reputation as a young batsman of outstanding potential.
Martin Crowe's introduction to test cricket was torrid — facing Australia's attack of Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee.
Though past their peak, they welcomed the youngster with a hail of bouncers at Wellington's Basin Reserve in February 1982.
A short ball from Thomson dislodged Crowe's helmet. Disconcerted, he looked almost relieved to be run out for nine. He made two in the second test at Auckland and nine in the third at Christchurch to total only 20 runs for the series.
From that inauspicious start, Martin Crowe accumulated 5,444 runs in tests at an average of 45 and 4,704 in limited-overs internationals at 38.55.

Martin Crowe's second-innings 299 against Sri Lanka in 1991 was the highest test score by a New Zealander until 2014, when Brendan McCullum scored 302 against India on the same ground at Wellington.

Martin Crowe's partnership of 467 with Andrew Jones was, at its time, the largest for any wicket in test history and remains the third-highest.

Actor Russell Crowe, Martin Crowe's New Zealand-born cousin, called him "my champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever. RIP." India allrounder Anil Kumble said "a modern great and cricket icon Martin Crowe is no more. Brilliant cricket brain and a warm persona."

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke used Instagram to post a photo of Crowe, saying "you will always be a legend in my eyes. Thank you for all your help and advice. Now you can rest easy my friend. Miss you already."

Martin Crowe was the son of a first-class cricketer — his father Dave played a handful of matches for New Zealand's Canterbury province and had high ambitions for sons Jeff and Martin to surpass his achievements. Both went on to play for and captain New Zealand during one of the country's most successful periods in international cricket.

Martin Crowe was a batsman in the classical mode, standing tall at the crease, using his feet with great expertise and playing spin and fast bowling with equal assurance. But he was often also wracked by self-doubt.

In his autobiography, "Raw," Martin Crowe said he "became a man who harbored grudges. ... The world record-holder for grievances." He wrote that he had "a disconnected spirit and soul overwhelmed by the ego and the emotional instability created from my unfinished teenage development."