Jeff Crowe’s short yet impactful innings against Pakistan in the 1st Test at Lahore during the 1984-85 season. The tall and elegant New Zealander played with flair, scoring 43 runs off 71 balls in 96 minutes. His knock included six delightful boundaries and a classy six, just when quick runs were needed for his side.
Crowe, born on 14 September 1958, represented New Zealand in both Tests and ODIs from 1983 to 1990. Known for his solid batting, reliable fielding, and occasional wicketkeeping, he also played in two Cricket World Cups (1983 & 1987). Geoff Crowe’s innings may have been brief, but it was a fine display of intent and character against a strong Pakistani attack.
👉 Subscribe for more classic cricket highlights and forgotten gems from the golden era of the game.
00:00In this classic video, witness Jeff Crowe stylish stroke play as he cracked six delightful boundaries
00:06against Pakistan during the first test at Lahore in the 1984-85 season. He smashed four boundaries
00:14to Abdul Qadir and one each to Tawseif Ahmed and Iqbal Qasim. Although his stay at the crease was
00:21brief scoring just 43 runs of 71 deliveries in 96 minutes, it was an innings of real value.
00:28With the game situation demanding quick runs, Jeff Crowe rose to the occasion even lifting
00:33one delivery over the ropes for a class A6. So let's relive his fine stroke making
00:39against a strong Pakistan spin-balling attack.
00:58That also brings up to 150 for New Zealand for the loss of four wickets, taking Crowe on to six, rolling to Jeff Crowe. Cracked out and that's a lovely looking shot through the covers, a tulip of a shot and it races to the cover boundary for four runs.
01:16And it races to the cover boundary for four runs.
01:23And it races to the cover boundary for four runs.
01:30And back foot pair, mid-bicket, four runs.
01:38And back foot pair, mid-bicket, four runs.
01:45The racket was quite slow.
01:49The racket was quite slow.
01:53And right foot pair, mid-bicket, four runs.
01:56And it became a short game.
01:59The lay-back, mid-bicket, the pitch that he was finding,
02:00the pitch that made him move,
02:02would be very short.
02:03He was very short.
02:04And in the range of short games,
02:05the challenge was found that Jeff Crowe was eligible for the score,
02:07the score was only 385.
02:08The play-back, mid-bicket, being a wild-bicket,
02:09when he was innings,
02:10the couch was too deep.
02:11It is easy to find 2-4 runs.
02:14And in the range of short games,
02:16the edge of the score was not 4-4 runs.
02:18and the final game was 180.
02:20The reach is more than the other batsman.
02:26The sight of the game is very nice.
02:32The fielders have no doubt in running.
02:36The shot is very nice.
02:39The shot was very nice.
02:41I was saying that when I was closing fielding,
02:43I was standing up and standing up.
02:45If you look at the ball, the natural reaction will get up.
02:54Short and dispatched to the mid-wicket boundary for six.
03:00That was a very, very fine shot indeed.
03:03It was a short ball and he picked it up very well indeed.
03:09Perfect timing. You must have seen it earlier.
03:12This is dropped short and Jeff Crowe pivoted round, heaved it over mid-wicket for six.
03:19The third six of the innings.
03:22There it is again. Short and there's Crowe. Perfect position.
03:32The 200 of the New Zealand goes up with a flourish.
03:42That's a nice looking stroke down to the mid-off boundary for us.
03:55Must have been perfectly timed because it is effortless.
03:59Just Evan Gray has to go out.
04:01One step below.
04:02Where he should have gone, but because of the night watchman coming in, he dropped the plate.
04:04That's a nice looking stroke.
04:05That's a nice looking stroke.
04:06Down to the mid-off boundary for us.
04:07It must have been perfectly timed because it is effortless.
04:08Just Evan Gray has to go out.
04:09One step below.
04:10Where he should have gone, but because of the night watchman coming in, he dropped the plate.
04:14It's a very confident appeal for a catch.
04:18One step below where he should have gone, but because of the night watchman coming in he dropped the plate.
04:38It's a very confident appeal for a catch.
04:42Ampire Nebuchadnezzar says now,
04:46Jagad Niyadar brought that off from Silly Point.
04:50That's the replay.
04:52Well-flighted ball.
04:56Jeff Crowe went forward.
05:00And then Jagad Niyadar diving for a catch.
05:16Pressure on New Zealand in the last 15 minutes.
05:24That was the last delivery and that is stumps.
05:30So, at close of play on the third day of the first test match between Pakistan and New Zealand.
05:38The position is that Pakistan this morning got a lead of one of 64 when they were all out for 221.
05:50And New Zealand are 211, 211 according to our scorers and 212 according to the scoreboard on the ground.
06:00So, we'll have to reconcile that and give the score tomorrow morning.
06:06But if we take 211 and take off a lead of 64, New Zealand stage, I don't think he can afford to do that.
06:18So, that's the wicket. Pakistan were wanting and Iqbal Qasim gets it for them.
06:32Trying to push that ball onto the onside and possibly that one went off his path.
06:38And then on to the stunts. We'll have a look at it again. Crowe out. That's a very vital wicket.
06:46That's the replay.
06:51Tossed up.
06:54It didn't turn at all, I think. He played in the wrong line.
06:57In fact, it came into him a little bit and he played across.
07:00Geoff Crowe born on 14th September 1958.
07:18He represented New Zealand in both test and ODI between 1983 and 1990.
07:24He was tall, fair-haired and strongly built.
07:27He was a dependable middle-order best man and a reliable fielder who could also keep pickets when required.
07:34Off the field, Geoff Crowe and his younger brother Martin Crowe often amused commentators by swapping helmets.
07:41Such was their resemblance.
07:42Cricket ran in the family.
07:44Their father had also featured in three first-class matches for Canterbury and Wellington between 1953 and 1957.
07:52Geoff Crowe himself played 75 ODIs, including appearance in two Cricket World Cups, England in 1983 and India and Pakistan in 1987.
08:01This short but impactful knock at Lahore reflected the essence of Geoff Crowe's games gritty, purposeful and played with a touch of elegance.
08:10He showcased his ability to adapt and deliver with style.
08:14Performances like these remind us that cricket is not just about big hundreds.
08:19It's also about the small but significant contribution that keeps the game alive and thrilling.
08:24If you like this video, please comment, share and subscribe. Thank you very much.
Be the first to comment