Sachin, Kumble, Fleming & Russell Crowe Mourn Martin Crowe

“My champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever.RIP M.D.Crowe,” tweeted Hollywood actor Russell Crowe

File picture of Martin Crowe from the day he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall Of Fame at the Cricket World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand in Auckland February 28, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

Martin Crowe, a cricketer of prodigious talent who made batting appear effortless while secretly struggling with the burden of being a world-class player in otherwise modest New Zealand teams, died of cancer Thursday.

He was 53.

Crowe was first diagnosed with aggressive follicular lymphoma in 2012 and after chemotherapy, he was thought to be in remission. But Crowe announced in September 2014 that the cancer, which he called “my friend and tough taskmaster,” had returned.

Early this morning, he lost his fight against the illness and left many fans, friends and contemporaries with a great big void. Here are some of them sharing their grief and also fond memories of the great man

On the field, he was one of the best ever, it’s as simple as that. He was a great competitor, had great technique, won a lot of games for New Zealand and is bracketed up there with the greats of the game.

Allan Border, former Australia captain