England-New Zealand Test series named Crowe-Thorpe Trophy

New Zealand and England will face each other in a Test match on Thursday with the goal of winning the "Crow-Thorp Trophy," a special trophy named in honor of two legendary cricketers from these countries — Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe. The trophy holds unique significance as it has been crafted using parts of the bats of both players, making it a tribute to their remarkable careers.

The Crow-Thorp Trophy is made from wood and was created with the collaboration of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and the families of the late cricketers, Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe. The design of the trophy was handled by a company named Mahu Creative.

The official unveiling of the Crow-Thorp Trophy will take place early Thursday morning (Bangladesh time) before the start of the Test match in Christchurch. From now on, the Test series between New Zealand and England will be contested for this special trophy, bearing the names of the two cricketing icons.

Martin Crowe of New Zealand played 71 Test matches, scoring 5,444 runs. He battled cancer for many years and passed away in 2016 at the age of 53. Graham Thorpe of England played 100 Test matches, scoring 6,744 runs. Tragically, he took his own life at the age of 55.

Scott Styris, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, expressed his feelings about the significance of the trophy, stating, "We want the current generation to embrace the legacy of players like Graham and Martin, as well as all their predecessors. It’s a privilege to honor their legacy in this way. Our teams will now play for a trophy named after them, which is the greatest honor we can give."

The Crow-Thorp Trophy is a fitting tribute to two cricketers who left an indelible mark on the sport and whose contributions continue to inspire players and fans alike.