SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 Ailing Crowe pens emotional tribute MELBOURNE: New Zealand’s former crick- He was inducted into the international et captain Martin Crowe, who is terminally cricket Hall of Fame last month and is mak- ill with lymphoma, has penned a moving ing the trip from New Zealand to watch tribute to his countrymen ahead of today’s the final live, cheering on the players he World Cup final against Australia. In a regards as the “sons I never had”. heart-wrenching column published on “I will hold back tears all day long. I will Cricinfo, the 52-year-old said Sunday’s gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground nervous parent,” he wrote. “Whatever hap- might be the last he ever sees. pens, March 29 at the MCG will be the “My precarious life ahead may not most divine fun ever.” afford me the luxury of many more games Current Black Caps skipper Brendon to watch and enjoy,” Crowe wrote. “So this McCullum told a news conference on is likely to be it. The last, maybe, and I can Saturday he had read Crowe’s column and happily live with that.” he paid tribute to his ailing predecessor. Crowe, who played 77 tests and 143 “I think what he’s going through at the One-Day Internationals for New Zealand, moment is incredibly difficult. We had him was regarded as one of the world’s best involved in the group, and not long ago as batsmen during the late 1980s and early well we came and spent time with the 1990s. team and it was great,” McCullum said. “He He was diagnosed with follicular lym- seems to have really found peace with phoma two years ago but it went into himself and the game as well, and he’s remission. Late last year, however, a new, been instrumental in helping some of our more aggressive form of the disease, dou- guys on the team peel back their games ble-hit lymphoma, developed and he said and really focus on being able to develop he had been told only five percent of suf- individually but also buy into the team col- ferers survive more than 12 months. Crowe lectively. He’s been a really big asset. “It’s said he had decided against chemothera- really sad what he’s going through and we py and was instead trying natural treat- just hope that he’s able to find some peace ments. in the time that he’s got left.” —Reuters ‘Ultimate game’ MELBOURNE: Australia’s captain Michael Clarke (left) and New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum shake hands as they pose for a photo with the Cricket World Cup trophy at the MCG in Melbourne. —AP excites McCullum Clarke quits as Australia, MELBOURNE: New Zealand captain tournament. “There is no challenge which Brendon McCullum said he was excited, not is insurmountable with a lot of hard work, a intimidated, at the prospect of leading his lot of heart, a lot of belief and making sure country in their first World Cup final when that everyone’s heading in the same direc- NZ eye World Cup title they face old foes Australia at the gigantic tion. Melbourne Cricket Ground today. “We will play an aggressive brand of Australia, the top-ranked side in one- cricket with bat and ball. We will play with MELBOURNE: Australia captain Michael Clarke 2015 World Cup to be the “most-followed and favorites on home turf at the MCG, where New day international cricket, are bidding for a the humility which we’ve played with has added a fresh edge to today’s blockbuster best-attended cricket event in history”. Zealand last played an ODI in 2009. Clarke said fifth World Cup title and will be considered throughout this campaign. World Cup final against New Zealand in Among a plethora of statistics, the ICC cited a the Black Caps may struggle to adjust to condi- favourites on home turf at the MCG where “And hopefully the big fella upstairs Melbourne by announcing the match will be his a crowd of 86,000 at the MCG for the India-South tions at the 90,000 capacity ground after playing New Zealand last played an ODI in 2009. shines on us when the pressure situations last one-day international. “I think it’s the right Africa pool match on February 22 — “a phenom- all their eight previous matches this tournament But the Black Caps are the only unbeaten come into play.” McCullum insisted that his time for me and the Australian cricket team,” the enal result given that neither of the host teams on their own grounds across the Tasman Sea. team in the tournament, having won eight team were not overawed by the prospect 33-year-old Clarke told reporters yesterday. were involved”-and that the official website had “Conditions are a lot different to what New games in a row. One of those victories was of playing at the famous amphitheatre, “I made the decision 48 hours ago when I attracted 227 million page views as evidence of Zealand have been playing in New Zealand,” against Australia in a low-scoring pool where New Zealand have won three of asked myself if I thought I would be playing in the tournament’s success. New Zealand go into Clarke said after his team’s emphatic 95-run stage thriller in Auckland on February 28 their last five matches against Australia. the next World Cup and I said to myself that ‘I their first title clash in cricket’s 50-overs-a-side semi-final victory over defending champions when a Kane Williamson six off Pat “I guess this is the ultimate game for us,” don’t think I will be’,” added Clarke, whose career showpiece as the only unbeaten team in the India on Thursday. Cummins helped them reach a modest tar- he said. “A 100,000 people in Australia’s has been blighted by back and hamstring prob- tournament, having won eight games in a row. However, New Zealand have defeated get of 152 with one wicket standing. backyard, MCG and its history and tradi- lems. One of those wins was against Australia in a Australia in three of their last five ODIs at the “We are not intimidated, we are excited,” tions and against a very good Australian. Clarke has played 244 one-day internationals, low-scoring pool stage thriller in Auckland on MCG and their most recent appearance saw McCullum said yesterday. “This has been “I’m sure some guys will be nervous scoring 7,907 runs with a highest score of 130 February 28 when a Kane Williamson six off Pat semi-final star Elliott’s unbeaten 61 fashion a six- the greatest time of our lives. We dreamed tomorrow morning. There is some excite- since his debut in 2003. He intends to keep play- Cummins helped them surpass a modest target wicket win with seven balls to spare after right from the start and to reach the final is ment about us going out there tomorrow ing Tests, however, having already featured in of 152 with one wicket standing. Australia had been restricted to 225 for five from an amazing achievement.” and putting our skills against the best in 108 matches, with 8,432 runs and a highest It was at the same Eden Park in Auckland that 50 overs. New Zealand crossed the semi-final hur- their backyard. score of 329 not out. the Black Caps downed South Africa in a nerve- Opener Martin Guptill, who hit a World Cup dle for the first time in seven attempts to “That certainly whets the appetite and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum tingling semi-final on Tuesday with a penulti- record score of 237 not out against the West leave an enthralled rugby-mad nation creates the greatest stage we can ask for. It struck the first psychological blow when he mate-ball six by Grant Elliott. Indies, is just 10 runs away from surpassing Sri backing their cricketers to take home crick- is certainly going to be a special day.” named his team 24 hours before the final. Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 541 to et’s biggest global prize. McCullum added he hoped his team could Unsurprisingly, the Black Caps retained the same RUGBY-MAD NATION become the tournament’s leading run-getter. “We’ve had some tremendous support win the World Cup for 36-year-old Daniel side which edged out South Africa in the semi- New Zealand’s first semi-final win in seven Left-armer Trent Boult is the leading bowler in back home and also from around the Vettori, who is likely to end his internation- finals. “It’s captivated the country back home, it’s attempts left an enthralled rugby-mad nation this edition with 21 wickets, one more than world,” said McCullum. “The brand of cricket al career after today’s final even though the immensely satisfying but we have to build on it. backing their cricketers to take home a trophy Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc, while seamer Tim that we’ve played has really touched a lot spinner has taken 15 wickets in the tourna- Gee it would be nice to win it,” said McCullum at that has so far eluded them in the World Cup’s Southee and veteran spinner Daniel Vettori have of people and endeared ourselves to a lot ment. “He is a tremendous ambassador for his pre-match news conference.