Top 10 New Zealand cricketers of all time

#4. Martin Crowe

Martin Crowe is one of the greatest batsmen New Zealand ever had

From his elegant batting to his captaincy, Martin Crowe is one of the most innovative people to have ever played cricket. Crowe was one of the most lethal batsmen during his playing days and was well-known for his immaculate footwork which more than often made even the most difficult of shots look incredibly easy.

By the time Crowe retired from international cricket in 1995, he was the highest run scorer for New Zealand in both Tests and ODIs. In Tests, Crowe notched up 5444 runs (4th highest for the Black Caps) at an average of 45.36 that comprised of 18 fifties and 17 hundreds (joint highest for New Zealand) with his incredible match-saving knock of 299 against Sri Lanka at Wellington being his highest score in the format.

In ODIs, Crowe nearly led New Zealand to a World Cup win in 1992 where the Kiwis reached the semi-finals only to be surprisingly beaten by eventual winners Pakistan. Crowe ended the tournament as the top run-getter and its best player.

He ended his ODI career with 4704 runs (8th highest for New Zealand) at an average of 38.55 with 34 fifties and four hundreds. As a captain, Martin Crowe was well known for deploying some out-of-the-box tactics which are commonly used today including opening the bowling with a spinner (Dipak Patel during the 1992 World Cup). He often used to rotate his bowling and field settings which on many occasions, pressurized the opposition batting.

New Zealand cricket lost this loyal and wonderful servant last March due to cancer.

#3. Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming is New Zealand's highest run-scorer in Tests and ODIs

New Zealand’s greatest batsman ever takes up the third spot on this list. After impressing on his Test debut (where he won the Man of the Match award), Fleming became one of New Zealand’s most key cogs. He became New Zealand’s youngest skipper ever at 23 years and 321 days, replacing Lee Germon in 1997.

Fleming led New Zealand to their only ICC silverware at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 and captained the Kiwis until his retirement from ODI cricket following the 2007 World Cup. He is New Zealand’s most successful captain and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest captains of all-time.

The RPS coach’s timing and footwork enabled him to play every shot elegantly but the shots of his which will be most remembered will definitely be his straight drive and cover drive. The left-hander is New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in Tests and ODIs, with 7172 Test runs (46 fifties and 9 hundreds) at 40.06 and 8037 ODI runs (49 fifties and 8 hundreds) at 32.40.

He also played 5 T20Is, leading the Black Caps to victory in the first ever T20I. Fleming was also a brilliant slip fielder with 171 Test catches (6th highest for a fielder) and 133 ODI catches (5th highest for a fielder).