Cricket-Former New Zealand captain Crowe dies aged 53

WELLINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) - Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe has died after a long battle with cancer, local media reported on Thursday. He was 53. "It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE advise his death," TVNZ quoted a family statement as saying. Widely regarded as New Zealand's finest batsman, Crowe played 77 tests from 1982-1995 and scored 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36. The elegant right-hander also scored 4,704 runs at an average of 38.55 in one-day internationals. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)