ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final, Australia vs New Zealand: Do it for Martin Crowe, Black Caps

ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final is all set to be on its way. As the Kiwi Warriors prepare themselves for their first appearance in the final of the mega-event, a terminally ill Martin Crowe, recently inducted into ICC’s Hall of Fame, has announced that he will visit Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the match. Abhishek Mukherjee pays homage to a man who had been synonymous to Australia-New Zealand contests during his heydays.

Martin Crowe has seen it all. He has seen New Zealand look at Australia in her eyes in the 1980s. When Richard Hadlee ran through the hosts at The Gabba and WACA, Crowe had been there with 188, 71, and 42 not out as New Zealand went on to beat their arch rivals 2-1 at their den.  PREVIEW: Australia (AUS) vs New Zealand (NZ) ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 FINAL

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

Crowe was not there when Trevor Chappell had bowled underarm, but he was out there, hand in hand with Andrew Jones, his old partner-in-crime, making that dazzling 137. He was there with a sublime 105-ball 91 not out at Wellington when the other 21 batsmen managed a mere 219 between them. Next match saw another 91 — the number that had probably haunted Crowe for a lifetime — and New Zealand beat Australia again. SCORECARD: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final Australia (AUS) vs New Zealand (NZ) at Melbourne

But that was March 1993 — a year after another 91 had let him down miserably at home, in Eden Park. It had been a fairytale journey for Crowe: an off-spinner to start bowling; a burly middle-order batsman at the top; a phalanx of accurate military-medium bowlers; deft bowling changes; batsmen who could accelerate at will. STATS PREVIEW: Australia (AUS) vs New Zealand (NZ) ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 FINAL

[read-also]257331,256556,257985,188117[/read-also]

Leading the way was the great man himself, top-scoring in the tournament, being named the Man of the Series. Crowe had started the World Cup with a hundred against Australia at Eden Park before stunning the favourites with his astute strategies. New Zealand won seven matches on the trot. In 2015, they have won eight.

Even in the semi-final, all seemed well till he reached 81. Then he felt a tug on the hamstring. He had to summon the physiotherapist. He continued with a runner. His leg was strapped up. He was run out ten runs later. New Zealand finished on 262. Crower had a choice between taking field and not playing in the final and letting Wright take charge. He did not want to miss the final. He felt 262 was enough. READ: New Zealand dream of toppling Australia in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final

He watched on helplessly as John Wright’s leadership, though efficient, lacked innovation and improvisation. He witnessed it all from the dressing-room, his leg strapped, rested on a stool; he paced the dressing-room when he could not take it anymore. One cannot help but draw a parallel with the chariot of Karna’s wheel sinking into the ground. Australia vs New Zealand 2015 World Cup final: Indian cricket fans to support Blackcaps

Crowe had planned 17 bowling changes for the 50-over innings; unfortunately, only he knew when to execute them. Wright stuck to a more conventional approach. The thunderstorm promised by the weather department arrived only after the match was over.

Crowe was left to lick his wounds. He would not play another World Cup. A final at MCG remained elusive. He waited for twenty years, and more. He tried making a comeback to competitive cricket before abandoning the idea. Lymphoma caught up with him. ICC inducted him into their Hall of Fame. But the Holy Grail remained elusive. Read: Martin Crowe inducted into ICC Hall of Fame during Australia vs New Zealand, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 tie

It does not get bigger than this, Black Caps. It will be your first World Cup final. You will be playing your arch rivals, at their den. Watching you will be the man who had taught New Zealand the mantra to get past teams that were stronger on paper in another home World Cup.  ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final could be the last match I see, says Martin Crowe

He called two of you the “sons he never had”. You know what a win will mean to him. He had laid down the blueprint 23 years back. It is up to you to pull it off.

(Abhishek Mukherjee is the Chief Editor and Cricket Historian at CricketCountry. He blogs here and can be followed on Twitter here.)