New Zealand legend and player of the 1992 cricket World Cup, Martin Crowe, was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame for his service to the game.
Crowe became the third New Zealander, after Sir Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley, and the 79th overall to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame when he received his commemorative cap from Wally Edwards, ICC Director and chairman of Cricket Australia.
The induction ceremony was held during the innings break of the New Zealand-Australia match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Eden Park, and was also attended by Stephen Boock, New Zealand Cricket President.
On his induction into the Hall of Fame, Crowe said: "On behalf of my family, I am extremely privileged to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, joining Sir Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley as the other New Zealanders to be awarded such a prestigious honour.
"Since I was eight years old, I was always reading and hearing about the great players who inspired the world over. In that, I have to thank my father Dave, for his mentoring and encouragement to my brother Jeff and I to play a game that he said of all sports 'mirrored life itself'.
"I loved the story of how an English coach had told Dad that he would never a make Test cricketer. Thirty years later, he was able to nudge the same coach and reply, 'You were right, I never made a Test cricketer, I made two!
"Both Jeff and I wouldn't have made it without the wonderful support of our mother Audrey and sister Deb. Cricket was our life, and remains so. We are grateful for what cricket has given our family."
Crowe 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, in which he scored 5,444 runs 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 in February 2014.
Crowe also played 143 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in which he scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55, with four hundreds and 34 half-centuries. He played in three ICC Cricket World Cups, and led New Zealand to the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992, where his side lost to Pakistan, the eventual champion, in Auckland.
He 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.
