Devon Cricket Board - Wyatt pays tribute to Crowe, 'technically' the best batter in the world

Wyatt pays tribute to Crowe, 'technically' the best batter in the world

FORMER Somerset and New Zealand star Martin Crowe, who has died aged 53, has been described as ‘the best batsman in the world’ during his time at Taunton by one of his old team-mates.

Crowe, who waged a long fight against lymphoma, scored nearly 20,000 runs in First Class cricket between 1979-1996 – and another 8,740 in one-day games.

Crowe played for Somerset in 1984 as overseas cover for Viv Richards and Joel Garner, who were touring with the West Indies that summer.

He scored nearly 2,500 runs in all competitions in 1984 and quickly became a fans’ favourite. The Taunton faithful still talk about his gladiatorial battle with West Indian paceman Andy Roberts in a game against Leicestershire more than 30 years later.

Inadvertently, Crowe was in the middle of the 1986 ‘split’ at Taunton, when the committee wanted to bring him back to replace Garner. In the fall-out that followed, Garner, Richards and Ian Botham all left the club.

Crowe had another run-filled summer in 1987, making nearly 2,000 runs, but in fewer appearances as Somerset’s interest in the one-day competitions ended early.

Somerset had signed Crowe for two years and he duly returned in 1988.

A back injury was causing Crowe problems and he only played a handful of games for Somerset before returning home.

Crowe’s last game in the County Championship for Somerset was against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Somerset won the three-day game by two wickets. Crowe’s contribution was 136 not out in the first innings and 80 in he second.

The opening batsman in that game was Julian Wyatt, who was with Somerset between 1983-89.

Wyatt, who later played for Torquay then Heathcoat, was a member of the Devon side between 1993-97

Wyatt batted regularly with Crowe, who usually came in at first or second wicket down, and said watching him bat was watching a master at work.
Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram led a Lancashire attack that also included Mike Watkinson, Paul Allot and Jackie Simmons – quality bowlers in any era.
Runs against that attack had to be earned, but Wyatt (right), who made 43 in the first innings, said Crowe was calm under fire.
‘Wasim Akram bowled very quickly and smashed my helmet - literally shattered the Perspex side piece,’ said Wyatt, now director of cricket at the University of Exeter.
‘Happy to say I swapped helmets and - merrily-ish - carried on.
‘Martin Crowe was the best technician I played with and I would argue that he was 'technically' the best batsman in the world during the late 80s and early 90s.
‘He had a huge impact on many of the younger players during his first stint, which led to him being re-registered in 1987/88 but his back curtailed his 1988 season.
‘His death is very sad news. The word 'great' is often over-used but I think in his case it was well earned.’
Crowe enjoyed many remarkable innings for Somerset – he scored 13 hundreds and a double century in is 41 County Championship appearances – but he is perhaps best remembered for his role in a six-wicket win over Leicestershire in 1984.
Roberts, agitated by Crowe’s refusal to buckle, used the short ball liberally and peppered all the batters with it.
Crowe made 70 not out in the first innings – he came of black and blue from the bouncer battering – as Roberts ripped Somerset out for 192 with a seven-wicket haul.
Somerset were left 341 to win in around 90 overs. Roberts had nothing left in the tank – he was none for 70 second time around – and with Peter Roebuck (128) at one end and Crowe (190) at the other an unlikely win was achieved.
‘Martin’s form for Somerset during the second half of 1984 was phenomenal and his innings against Leicestershire to chase down 341 remarkable,’ said Wyatt.
‘The two innings showed different sides of his game and why he was such a master.
‘Roberts was just too aggressive and good for us in the first innings and you needed bravery to survive.
‘In the second innings Martin had weighed up Roberts and was able to play him with far more control.’

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