Martin Crowe was regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers. Hailing from a cricketing family, he emerged as a prodigious talent from suburban Auckland. Known for his impeccable technique, Crowe was a complete batsman proficient in both attack and defense. He displayed an innate game sense and stood out with his elegant and balanced batting style.
The legendary New Zealand batter thrived alongside Sir Richard Hadlee during New Zealand’s cricketing resurgence in the late 80s. In his 77-match Test career, the legendary batter amassed 5444 runs at an impressive average of 45.36, with his highest score being 299 against Sri Lanka. Crowe’s career milestones included breaking into Test cricket as a teenager, becoming New Zealand’s highest run-scorer, achieving 10,000 international runs, and captaining the team in the 1992 World Cup. Let us look at the top 3 performances of the former New Zealand player in the longest format of the game:
1. 299 vs Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1991
During the inaugural Test of the series held in Wellington, Martin Crowe made a remarkable achievement by amassing 299 runs in his team’s second innings, establishing a fresh record for the highest individual score by a New Zealand cricketer. His incredible innings saw him occupying the crease for an astounding 523 balls, spanning over a duration of more than ten hours and included an impressive tally of 29 fours and three sixes.
2. 188 vs West Indies in Georgetown in 1985
Various fans regard this innings of New Zealand as his greatest Test innings. Facing a challenging situation, the former New Zealand skipper came to the crease when New Zealand was struggling at 45 for 2, following the West Indies’ imposing first-innings total of 511. Despite contending with a formidable pace attack, Crowe displayed great resilience and played a pivotal role in stabilizing the innings.
3. 188 vs Australia in Brisbane in 1985
In Brisbane, the legendary New Zealand batter delivered a Test innings of sheer mastery. Following the dismissal of the hosts for a mere 179 runs, the New Zealand team amassed a substantial total of 553 in their first innings, largely propelled by Crowe’s brilliant performance, where he scored 188 runs from 328 deliveries with a flurry of well-executed strokes.