Petition for Martin Crowe urgent knighthood

Name: Cricket: Martin Crowe 'Not out'
Uploaded: 2015-02-27T20:05:33+13:00
Duration: 196 s
Description: The World Cup legend, 52, who is battling terminal cancer, played in a legends knockabout at his beloved Cornwall Park today, before making a brief appearance in front of the media. "My dad's ashes are out there, so I thought it would be nice to bat an over. I've treated this as my last outing on the old ground.

NZ Herald

16 Apr, 2015 09:25 PM2 mins to read

The World Cup legend, 52, who is battling terminal cancer, played in a legends knockabout at his beloved Cornwall Park today, before making a brief appearance in front of the media. "My dad's ashes are out there, so I thought it would be nice to bat an over. I've treated this as my last outing on the old ground.

A petition to grant ailing New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe an urgent knighthood has gained more than 5,000 signatures.

The petition, titled Recommend the Award of a Knighthood under urgency to Martin David Crowe, already has 5,352 supporters after being created two weeks ago.

Crowe, 52, has been battling for his health since announcing in October 2012 he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Eight months later there was hope after he revealed he was free of cancer.

However, late last year Crowe announced his "friend and tough taskmaster lymphoma is back".

"He, after Sir Richard Hadlee is the iconic figure in NZ Cricket of the last 30 years. He has inspired generations of young cricketers and is a genuinely great New Zealand leader," the petition says.

"The award of a Knighthood should bear no discussion. Its award with urgency given the uncertainty over Mr Crowe's life expectancy bears less.

"I call upon the Government of New Zealand via the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Awards Committee to petition the Governor General to recommend to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that this honour be so granted."

Having captained the New Zealand team in the early 1990s, including the team that contested the 1992 World Cup, Crowe returned to Eden Park in February and was inducted into cricket's Hall of Fame, during New Zealand's pool match against Australia.

Broadcaster Paul Holmes received a special investiture knighthood ceremony in 2013 when he was also fighting cancer before passing away a month later.