Cricketing legends ready to reunite

BEST EVER: Martin Crowe is looking forward to catching up with his old mates.PHOTO/NZME.

The man many regard as the finest batsman to don the New Zealand strip is set to meet one of his old playing foes at next week's big Legends of Cricket match, being staged at the Clifton County Cricket Ground at Te Awanga.

Martin Crowe, who posted 71 centuries and nearly 20,000 first class runs, has confirmed he will be there for part of the big day and said he was looking forward to meeting a certain Australian player who was equally skilled, but in the bowling sense.

"I remember facing Jeff Thomson in my debut against Australia so it will be good to see him again," Mr Crowe said.

"It's also going to be a great day catching up with so many old mates in Hawke's Bay."

One he won't be able to catch up with, however, will be Sir Ian Botham.

He has had to pull out of the occasion due to commentating schedules.

"We're disappointed that Sir Ian can't make it to the legends game but we know that schedules change and we look forward to welcoming him to Hawke's Bay when he commentates the Pakistan v United Arab Emirates match on March 4 at McLean Park," Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said.

She was delighted though to get Mr Crowe aboard and said it was fitting that a true legend of the Kiwi game would be part of the action at the legends event.

"It is just fantastic to get him here," Ms Dundas said.

"To have him join us will be just wonderful because he is a hero to so many and one of our national cricketing treasures."

Other big names who will be at the match are Adam Hollioake, Chris Harris, Evan Gray, Erv McSweeney, Shane Thomson, Dion Nash, Mark Ellis and actor Shane Cortese (who has played for Northern Districts and Lords Tavener).

Ian Smith will also take part in the day but in a non-playing capacity.

Mr Crowe, 52, launched his test career in February 1982 against Australia - where he faced the venomous fast deliveries of Mr Thomson.

But he was unfortunate to be run out while on just nine, while Mr Thomson took two wickets in the first innings.

His last test was in India in November 1995 where he made 15 - but in the years between he played 77 tests and racked up 5444 runs.

In 2012 it was reported Mr Crowe was battling lymphoma but, after extensive treatment, the outlook looked good and he announced in 2013 it appeared to have been successful.

Unfortunately the cancer returned last year and Mr Crowe conceded it was "serious".

His medical situation has not, however, got between him and meeting up with long-time, old mates at what promises to be an entertaining day.

At this stage the weather picture for the Wednesday event is looking good, with Metservice forecasting partly cloudy, little wind and 25 degrees.

The match will be a Twenty20 game but based on an Art Deco theme, which will see players donning traditional 1930's cricket attire with a host of sideline activities celebrating the era.

Food and beverages will be on sale at the match, and while the match is not BYO, spectators are welcome to bring their own picnics into the grounds.

-Tickets, which are said to be selling fast, are on sale through artdecocricketmatch.co.nz