'I'll be holding back tears': Martin Crowe's emotional message

Today's Cricket World Cup final is possibly the last match Martin Crowe will see. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Dying New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe says he'll be holding back tears as he watches today's Cricket World Cup final - possibly the last match he will see.

The former master batsman and national captain will be among the 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the transtasman showdown.

Crowe, who is battling lymphoma, says today's game will be the "personal cricketing highlight of my life".

On the eve of today's final the 52-year-old penned an emotional column for espncricinfo.com, writing:

"My precarious life ahead may not afford me the luxury of many more games to watch. So this is likely to be it. I can happily live with that.

"To see the two sons I never had, Ross Taylor and Marty Guptill, run out in black, drawing on all their resolve and resilience, will be mesmerically satisfying. I will hold back tears all day long. I will gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a nervous parent.

"Whatever happens, March 29 at the MCG will be the most divine fun ever."

Crowe 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".

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

He said today's final represents 40 years of Kiwi cricket. "It has been a team effort and it will remain one. I will be there to share my gratitude at seeing a baton carried with such brilliance and daring," he wrote.

"Without question, this will be the personal cricketing highlight of my life. If New Zealand win, for the very first time they will step out of the All Blacks' shadows. That is arguably the greatest feat of all."

Crowe captained the 1992 New Zealand cricket team which lost its World Cup semifinal to Pakistan.