Sat, Mar 12, 2016 page18

• Martin Crowe farewelled in NZ

  RIVALRies OVER: Cousin Russell was among the pallbearers, while students from Auckland Grammar School performed a haka as the hearse departed

  • AFP, AUCKLAND, New Zealand
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  Cricketing greats honored Martin Crowe at an emotional funeral for New Zealand’s greatest batsman yesterday, with his cousin, Hollywood star Russell Crowe, acting as a pallbearer.

  About 1,000 mourners packed Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral to remember Martin Crowe, who died on Friday last week aged 53 after a long battle with cancer.

  The batsman’s brother, Jeff, himself a former Black Caps captain, said the family had been touched by the outpouring of grief from across the cricketing world.

  

  Auckland Grammar School students perform a haka as a hearse carries former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe from the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AP

  Jeff was in Bangladesh on umpiring duties when Martin died and said there were heartfelt tributes from many involved in the game, including “a new Indian cricket generation.”

  “It had never really dawned on me ... what a huge splash he made, what a true inspiration he was,” Crowe senior told the service.

  “Wasim Akram reminded me just the other day that Martin was the greatest batsman he ever bowled to — no higher praise than that,” he added.

  

  Actor Russell Crowe helps carry the coffin of his cousin Martin Crowe at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday.

  Photo: AP

  Former teammates shared memories of a player who averaged 45.36, despite being plagued by injury in his 77-Test career, hitting 17 centuries — still a New Zealand record.

  Former Black Caps wicketkeeper Ian Smith read out a message from Australia great Allan Border, Martin’s fierce rival who became a close friend.

  “Cricket has lost one of its iconic players. He will be fondly remembered, greatly missed, but never forgotten, a true champion,” Border said.

  Smith said Martin’s cricketing brain was unsurpassed, describing him as years ahead of his time in devising a shortened form of the game that paved the way for Twenty20.

  He also shared lighter memories, such as Martin imitating opponents’ techniques during rain delays in the dressing room and forcing teammates to repeatedly watch films featuring his Oscar-award winning cousin.

  Martin “was in Gladiator as an extra, he was a senator — well he was never going to be a footsoldier was he?” Smith quipped, referring to the Russell Crowe blockbuster.

  The actor’s presence at the service had been in doubt due to prior commitments, but he made the trip to New Zealand with his children.

  He did not address the service, but after Crowe’s death tweeted: “My champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever.”

  He helped carry a casket bearing a giant inlaid silver fern to a hearse outside the cathedral as students from Martin’s former school Auckland Grammar performed a haka.

  Jeff said cousins Martin and Russell had shared a friendly rivalry as they both embarked upon stellar careers in their chosen fields.

  “I do remember a wager they had on who would be the most famous,” he said. “Russ, today only, I think Martin might be in front.”

  Smith said he saw Crowe in recent months “as things were shutting down” due to the cancer that was first diagnosed in October 2012 and then returned in September 2014.

  “I won’t remember him that way,” Smith said. “I’ll always see a great man at the crease. White helmet, silver fern on ... playing the most perfect straight drive back past the bowler for four.”
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