Melbourne: New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe has passed away at the age of 53 after a battle with cancer.
Crowe, who led New Zealand to the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup, had been diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in October 2012 and underwent treatment for the cancer but it returned two years later.
A statement from Crowe’s family said he died in Auckland on Thursday surrounded by family, news.com.au reported.
Doctors identified his condition as double-hit lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood disease. Only five per cent of those diagnosed with it live for longer than 12 months.
Crowe scored 5444 runs at an average of 45.36 in his 77 Tests before calling curtains on his international career in 1995. He had 17 centuries under his belt in the longer-format of the game, the most by a New Zealand cricketer.
He had also represented his country in 143 ODIs, scoring 4704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries and 34 half-centuries.
Crowe is survived by his wife Lorraine Downes, and daughter Emma and step-children Hilton and Jasmine. (ANI)