Crowe to be inducted into ICC's Hall of Fame Saturday

Sydney, Feb 26 (IANS) New Zealand great Martin Crowe will be inducted into the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricket Hall of Fame during the World Cup match between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland Saturday, the game's world governing body announced Thursday.

Former right-handed batsman Crowe will become the 79th inductee into the elite list and third New Zealand player after Richard Hadlee and Debbie Hockley.

After making his international debut against Australia in Wellington February 1982 at the age of 19, Crowe retired 13 years later after playing 77 Tests. He scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36.

This included 17 centuries, the most by a New Zealand cricketer, while his 299 against Sri Lanka in Wellington in January 1991 stood as a national record until Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India in Wellington last year in February.

Crowe also played 143 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in which he scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 with four centuries and 34 half-centuries. He played in three World Cups, and led New Zealand to the semifinals in 1992 where his side lost to eventual champion Pakistan in Auckland.

However, his innovative captaincy and most runs in the series won him player of the World Cup 1992 award. Crowe captained New Zealand in 16 Tests and 44 ODIs.

Overall, Crowe played 247 first-class matches in a 17-year career in which he scored 19,608 runs with 71 centuries and 80 half-centuries. Apart from representing New Zealand, he also played for Auckland, Central Districts, Somerset and Wellington.

Last week in Melbourne, former India captain Anil Kumble and Australia's Betty Wilson were inducted in the elite list.

The 52-year-old Crowe will be formally honoured during the innings break in the Australia versus New Zealand match at the Eden Park in Auckland. ICC director and chairman of Cricket Australia, Wally Edwards will present Crowe his commemorative cap Saturday.