Published: Mar 28, 2015, 06:14 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 28, 2015, 06:14 PM (IST)
This week is one of the emotional weeks for New Zealand cricket team and their fans as the team for the first time in World Cup history reached the final by beating South Africa in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and now get ready to face Australia in the final on Sunday. What was more touching was when former New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe, who is battling a rare blood cancer, today wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo that the New Zealand-Australia game could be the last game he’ll ever see.
After his column, New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum today wished terminally ailing Crowe that he ‘finds peace in the time left for him.’ Earlier, Crowe in an emotional article for ESPNCricinfo termed New Zealand batsmen Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill as the ‘two sons I never had and wrote that ‘my precarious life ahead may not afford me the luxury of many more games to watch and enjoy, so this (World Cup final at the MCG) is likely to be it, the last … I can happily live with that.’
“I read that article. I think he’s a fantastic writer. I think what he’s going through at the moment is incredibly difficult. We had him involved in the group, and not long ago as well we came and spent time with the team and it was great,” McCullum said in a report from Press Trust of India (PTI) after being asked about the article written by the legendary Crowe. (Read: Emotional Martin Crowe says that ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final could be the last match he sees)
The New Zealand skipper said he was pleased to see Crowe for finally finding peace with himself and the game.
“He seems to have really found peace with himself and the game as well, and he’s been instrumental in helping some of our guys on the team peel back their games and really focus on being able to develop individually but also buy into the team collectively,” said McCullum.
“He’s been a really big asset, and there are many guys as well who have assisted guys individually which has helped the team collectively. So, it was really sad what he’s going through, and we just hope that he’s able to find some peace in the time that he’s got left,” he concluded.
New Zealand plays neighboring nation Australia in a fitting finale at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. If New Zealand wins their maiden World Cup trophy, then it will surely be the best way to pay tribute to the legendary cricketer.
