Brendon McCullum says the BLACKCAPS side he captained over the past couple of years was emboldened by the support of New Zealand great Martin Crowe, who passed away yesterday at 53.
McCullum said Crowe, who he regards as one of the game’s finest innovators, seemed excited by the brand of cricket the BLACKCAPS adopted in both the Test and ODI arena, and regularly communicated his support.
“It’s hard to imagine a New Zealand cricket landscape without Martin — he’s been a constant for both myself and the BLACKCAPS team,” said McCullum.
“Martin was one of the first to congratulate me after I went past his New Zealand Test record score; he seemed to enjoy the moment for my sake, which was really selfless of him.
“He was a huge supporter of the way we played our cricket; I think the style we adopted at the time resonated strongly with him — he was always encouraging us to go higher, further, faster.
“That meant a lot to us. To have someone of Martin’s stature backing us so publicly gave us a lot of confidence.”
McCullum said although Crowe’s illness was widely known, he was shocked when news broke of his passing yesterday.
“It’s just very, very sad. He’s been taken from us far too soon. I want to pass on my deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones. I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now.”
