Taken from Swinging Balls magazine, published 8/9/2011
For most former international cricketers, making a comeback is the last thing on the mind at the age of 48. However, for Martin Crowe, that is exactly what is at the forefront of his thoughts as he prepares for an unprecedented first season in 15 years.
Since his retirement from the game in 1996, Crowe has tried his hand at both coaching and media work, but the ex-New Zealand captain is now in training as he looks to make a comeback for his local side Cornwall CC. Crowe began his cricketing career at the club when he was six years-old, but last turned out for the Auckland-based team in 1981, before making his international bow the following year.
For most former international cricketers, making a comeback is the last thing on the mind at the age of 48. However, for Martin Crowe, that is exactly what is at the forefront of his thoughts as he prepares for an unprecedented first season in 15 years.
Since his retirement from the game in 1996, Crowe has tried his hand at both coaching and media work, but the ex-New Zealand captain is now in training as he looks to make a comeback for his local side Cornwall CC. Crowe began his cricketing career at the club when he was six years-old, but last turned out for the Auckland-based team in 1981, before making his international bow the following year.
The 1985 Wisden Cricketer of the Year believes that he is on track to make his return over the New Zealand summer whilst he hopes to possibly make a step up to the first-class game.
“If all goes well I hope to put my name up for something higher, but it’s a long shot given my age.”
Despite reports that Crowe’s motivation for making a comeback was that he wanted to reach 250 first-class matches and 20,000 first-class runs, he is keen to reiterate that his return is for more for personal fitness and enjoyment reasons.
“My motivation is to get really fit and healthy and to do what I enjoy the best of all; batting” he says. “I also want to go back to grassroots and give back, plus have some fun on a Saturday afternoon.”
Crowe admits the most difficult obstacle he has overcome since he announced his return to the sport are little niggles and strains in his legs, but as he approaches his own half-century in terms of age, that is very understandable.
The former Black Cap is one of a number of the cricketing fraternity who has embraced social media and Twitter. He used the popular networking site to announce his comeback, although he doesn’t feel that the use of sites like Twitter or Facebook have had a huge impact on the sport and how it is covered.
He says, “No impact of note, at this stage. I don’t have a personal PR department so I used Twitter to get a message out. It took 30 minutes to get the media buzzing, so it can work for an individual.”
Since Crowe retired in the mid-1990’s, New Zealand have struggled to consistently perform at the highest level of the game. Despite a World Cup semi-final earlier this year, their performances in all forms of the game have been largely disappointing. The low point came after a one-day series whitewash defeat by Bangladesh, and Crowe is worried about how his country’s cricketing authorities have prioritised, although he feels his comeback will have no effect on the fortunes of the national team or New Zealand’s young cricketers.
“Cricket in New Zealand is at a serious crossroad. We have wrongly decided to focus on T20 and our Test game is disappearing fast. My return will have no impact though, as its only at club level at this stage.”
Away from cricket, Crowe holds a keen interest in Rugby Union and the fortunes of his beloved All Blacks, who he is backing to finally shrug off their chokers tag and win the World Cup on home soil over the next few weeks.
“The All Blacks will get there this time, but it will be tense to the end. Australia in the Final would be an amazing event. Henry vs Deans is Trans-Tasman rivalry at its ultimate best. Richie McCaw the Number seven for New Zealand will lift the seventh Rugby World Cup.”
He also believes that hosting such a major sporting event will be a huge lift to his beloved New Zealand, saying “It will be incredibly positive for a nation that is going through a lot at present after the earthquakes in Christchurch, our second largest city. Overall apart from cost of staging it, the world will see New Zealand as a fine nation.”
The return of Martin Crowe to the sport of the cricket may seem, from the outside, to be a selfish act of a former professional who just wants to improve their career statistics and possibly take the place of a talented young player.
However, Crowe wants to give something back to the sport and help out at a grassroots level. Whilst he realises a return to first-class cricket isn’t something to which he has a divine right to, Crowe just wants to enjoy playing cricket for his local team and coaching the next generation of young Kiwi cricketers.
“If all goes well I hope to put my name up for something higher, but it’s a long shot given my age.”
Despite reports that Crowe’s motivation for making a comeback was that he wanted to reach 250 first-class matches and 20,000 first-class runs, he is keen to reiterate that his return is for more for personal fitness and enjoyment reasons.
“My motivation is to get really fit and healthy and to do what I enjoy the best of all; batting” he says. “I also want to go back to grassroots and give back, plus have some fun on a Saturday afternoon.”
Crowe admits the most difficult obstacle he has overcome since he announced his return to the sport are little niggles and strains in his legs, but as he approaches his own half-century in terms of age, that is very understandable.
The former Black Cap is one of a number of the cricketing fraternity who has embraced social media and Twitter. He used the popular networking site to announce his comeback, although he doesn’t feel that the use of sites like Twitter or Facebook have had a huge impact on the sport and how it is covered.
He says, “No impact of note, at this stage. I don’t have a personal PR department so I used Twitter to get a message out. It took 30 minutes to get the media buzzing, so it can work for an individual.”
Since Crowe retired in the mid-1990’s, New Zealand have struggled to consistently perform at the highest level of the game. Despite a World Cup semi-final earlier this year, their performances in all forms of the game have been largely disappointing. The low point came after a one-day series whitewash defeat by Bangladesh, and Crowe is worried about how his country’s cricketing authorities have prioritised, although he feels his comeback will have no effect on the fortunes of the national team or New Zealand’s young cricketers.
“Cricket in New Zealand is at a serious crossroad. We have wrongly decided to focus on T20 and our Test game is disappearing fast. My return will have no impact though, as its only at club level at this stage.”
Away from cricket, Crowe holds a keen interest in Rugby Union and the fortunes of his beloved All Blacks, who he is backing to finally shrug off their chokers tag and win the World Cup on home soil over the next few weeks.
“The All Blacks will get there this time, but it will be tense to the end. Australia in the Final would be an amazing event. Henry vs Deans is Trans-Tasman rivalry at its ultimate best. Richie McCaw the Number seven for New Zealand will lift the seventh Rugby World Cup.”
He also believes that hosting such a major sporting event will be a huge lift to his beloved New Zealand, saying “It will be incredibly positive for a nation that is going through a lot at present after the earthquakes in Christchurch, our second largest city. Overall apart from cost of staging it, the world will see New Zealand as a fine nation.”
The return of Martin Crowe to the sport of the cricket may seem, from the outside, to be a selfish act of a former professional who just wants to improve their career statistics and possibly take the place of a talented young player.
However, Crowe wants to give something back to the sport and help out at a grassroots level. Whilst he realises a return to first-class cricket isn’t something to which he has a divine right to, Crowe just wants to enjoy playing cricket for his local team and coaching the next generation of young Kiwi cricketers.
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