After all, it was he who thrilled crowds around the world with his shot play in the 1992 World Cup at Eden Park, during which New Zealand bowed out in the semifinal stage against Pakistan. Crowe's lead-by-example captaincy and outstanding batting were big factors in getting his team into the semis.
It was a time when one-day cricket was coming of age, when players who could bash the ball were getting recognition internationally. Yet Crowe scored more runs than most with his classic technique that was always cultured and never, as they sometimes say, agricultural. He should also be given credit for creating the forerunner to the modern day Twenty20 game ... Cricket Max.
It didn't last as long as Crowe would have liked, but the creative thinking that went into high scoring zones, four stumps (instead of three) and two 10-over innings was indicative of Crowe's uniqueness.
As was his approach to his illness. A year ago he was not expected to survive for much longer. But he gave himself another year of life, albeit with lymphoma, by rejecting traditional medicine and opting for alternative remedies and treatments.
He did things differently and his record speaks for itself.
