England-New Zealand Test series named after Graham Thorpe, Martin Crowe to honor legends

England and New Zealand will honor cricket legends Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe during the upcoming bilateral Test series between the two nations. The Crowe-Thorpe Trophy will celebrate the legacies of Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe in future encounters between the two sides.

Thorpe tragically passed away in August at the age of 55, while Crowe died in 2016 at 53 after battling lymphoma for three years. The three-Test series will be played between November 28 and December 18. The first will be played in Wellington, before moving to Hamilton and Wellington.

England and New Zealand have been playing Test matches against each other since the 1929/30 season. Notably, England leads with 52 wins in 112 games, while New Zealand has 13 wins. This upcoming series is crucial for the home team to stay in the race for the World Test Championship final.

We Recognise This And Respect Their Legacy - New Zealand CEO

New Zealand CEO Scott Weenink said the new trophy is a fitting tribute to the legacies of Graham Thorpe and Martin Crowe. He stated that the new trophy will provide a chance to remember the contributions of both players.

“Today’s generation of players are standing on the shoulders of those who went before them, players like Graham and Martin,” said Weenink.

“It’s good that we recognise this and respect their legacy. Both those players were seriously good batsmen who understood the game intimately - they commanded respect wherever they went.”

Our Two Men's Sides Will Now Be Contested In Their Name - ECB CEO

ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould said that Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe are two legends of the game. Richard mentioned the heartbreak of losing both players too soon and hoped that this tribute would help preserve their memories and legacies for future generations.

“Martin and Graham are two legends of the game, and it is fitting that Test series between our two men’s sides will now be contested in their name," Richard Gould said.

“It’s heart-breaking to have lost both men so early, but by honouring them in this way I hope we can help ensure the memories and legacies of two of our nations’ finest cricketers live on long into the future.”

Graham Thorpe, Martin Crowe's Stats in Test Cricket

Graham Thorpe, who debuted in 1993, was a consistent performer against New Zealand. He scored four centuries at an impressive average of 53 against the Black Caps. Thorpe scored 6,744 in 100 Tests at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries. He was also a successful batter in ODIs cricket.

Martin Crowe scored 17 Test centuries at an average of 45.37 over his 13-year career. Crowe is New Zealand's sixth-highest Test run-scorer, with 5,444 runs. Crowe scored 4,704 runs across 143 ODI matches. The former batter smashed five centuries against England, including 142 at iconic Lord’s.

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