New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe dies aged 53

Cricket legend Martin Crowe, unarguably New Zealand’s greatest-ever batsman, passed away at the age of 53 in Auckland on Thursday after losing a long battle against a rare form of blood cancer.

Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe accepts a cap as induction into the ICC Cricket Hall Of Fame in February 2015. Crowe died after a long battle with cancer. REUTERS/Nigel Marple

Crowe's family said he died surrounded by his loved ones and asked for privacy after the star's lengthy and very public battle with the disease.

The batsman's cousin and Hollywood star Russell Crowe, who was in frequent contact during his cancer fight, said he had lost a true friend.

“My champion, my hero, my friend. I will love you forever. RIP MD Crowe,” the New Zealand-born actor tweeted.

Crowe made his international debut in 1982 at the age of 20. He played for the New Zealand team till his retirement in 1995.

During his 13 years of international career, he scored more than 5,000 runs in 77 Test matches at an impressive average of 45. At his retirement, he held the New Zealand records for the highest Test score (299), most 50s (35) and most hundreds (17) – the last of which still stands.

In One Day Internationals Crowe scored 4,704 runs in 143 matches.

He is most remembered for the 1992 World Cup in which he guided his team to the semi-final by not only scoring the highest number of runs in the tournament but also by successfully deploying innovate tactics like opening the bowling with a spinner and using pinch-hitting batsmen at the top of the order.

Crowe was adjudged the man of the series of the tournament.

Crowe is also credited with laying the foundation of the T20 format of the game that has become hugely popular in recent times.

An ICC Hall of Fame inductee, he remained involved with New Zealand's top players until the end, mentoring batsmen such as Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill.

Glowing tributes flowed in for Crowe from all over the world.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said he was a truly great sportsman, one of the country's finest-ever batsmen and sharpest cricketing minds.

Australia's Tom Moody hailed him as a master batsman and one of the great thinkers in the game.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tweeted that Crowe was one of his favourite cricketers, epitomising grace and style.

Rugby world champions All Blacks declared Crowe a true New Zealand sporting great.