Wellingtonian – Mark Pirie’s Martin Crowe poem

Prior to the Earthquake Relief Cricket Match at the Basin, my poem on Martin Crowe’s dismissal for 299 appeared in The Wellingtonian (10 March 2011), the community newspaper edited by Joseph Romanos in Wellington. The poem was first published by Tony Chad in his poetry mag Valley Micropress (April 2009) and also appears in the anthologies ESAW Christmas Surprise 2009 and A Tingling Catch:

MARK PIRIE

The Record

When Crowe neared a triple,

cans flew in celebration.

He wouldn’t do it, said one.

The board read 299,

The hush implied a triple.

He needed just the one,

to dab it, play it cool.

It was going to be a spectacle.

Greatbatch watched, ready to run.

But oh – he snicked one.

Poem © Mark Pirie 2009

Author’s Note: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, First Test, Jan 31-Feb 4, 1991. During the match Andrew Jones (186) and Martin Crowe (299) combined for a then World Record partnership of 467 for the Third Wicket. Crowe’s 299 is the Highest Test Score by a New Zealand batsman. The record was later surpassed by K C Sangakarra and Mahela Jayawardene’s partnership of 624 for Sri Lanka against South Africa, Colombo, 27 July 2006. Mark Greatbatch was at the non-striker’s end when Crowe was finally dismissed.