Top 5 ODI knocks by New Zealand batsmen in India

#3 Martin Crowe 107* (Jamshedpur 1995)

Martin Crowe’s elegant strokeplay fetched him countless admirers

In the history of New Zealand cricket, three things are indisputable – Sir Richard Hadlee’s place as their greatest cricketer, Daniel Vettori’s place as their greatest spin bowler and Martin Crowe’s place as their greatest batsman. Crowe was light years ahead of the rest of the Kiwi batsmen and was famous for his silken stroke-play.

Crowe had his last hurrah in ODIs in the 1995/1996 season and his performance with the willow in the series was spectacular. With a tally of 187 runs, Crowe signed off as the second highest run-scorer in the series.

Crowe waved goodbye to cricket when he still had plenty of batting ability left in him but by then, he had already achieved enough to be regarded as the greatest batsman in New Zealand cricket. In the first ODI of the series, all the home team could manage was a modest total of 236 due to impressive bowling by New Zealand.

Crowe then notched up an unbeaten 107 and played a pivotal role in the run chase. Along with the young Stephen Fleming who made an unbeaten 78, Crowe took the Kiwis home with plenty of balls to spare.