The trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Test series between England and New Zealand, a competition that dates back to the two countries’ first Test match in 1930.

New Delhi: England are set to honor legendary batsman Graham Thorpe by introducing a new trophy for the Test series against New Zealand. It will be named after Thorpe and New Zealand batsman Martin Crowe, in a tribute to two of their respective countries’ most iconic batsmen.

The trophy will be awarded to the winner of the Test series between England and New Zealand, a competition that dates back to the two countries’ first Test match in 1930.

According to The Telegraph, this initiative, which is expected to come into force in the series that will start on November 28, aims to honor the legacy of Crowe and Thorpe.

Often regarded as New Zealand’s best batsman, Crowe represented his country in 77 Tests from 1982 to 1995, amassing an average of 45.36, including 17 centuries and 18 half-centuries.

He was also appreciated as a thoughtful writer and commentator after his playing days, becoming one of cricket’s greatest thinkers. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 53, after a three-year battle with lymphoma.

Crowe had a special connection with the matches against England, scoring five centuries against them at an average of 40.6. During his 100-Test career, Thorpe averaged 44.7, displaying his stamina and goal-scoring ability.

Thorpe had a remarkable record against New Zealand, averaging 53.2. Four of his 16 Test centuries came against the Black Caps; This included his highest Test score of 200 in Christchurch in 2002. Thorpe passed away in August 2024.

England and New Zealand last met in 2023 in a thrilling match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, with New Zealand claiming a one-run victory. The upcoming three-Test series will begin in Christchurch on November 28, with further Tests in Wellington and Hamilton before Christmas.

The addition of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy is in line with the recent trend in cricket to commemorate historical figures with serial trophies. England are already competing for many such trophies; The Ashes match against Australia is the most iconic.

Introduced in 2022, the Richards-Botham Cup replaces the Wisden Cup for the England-West Indies series, while the Basil D’Oliveira Cup marks the series against South Africa. New Zealand similarly honored important moments and individuals; most recently in the Tangiwai Shield for Test series against South Africa.

This trophy commemorates the tragic 1953 Tangiwai railway disaster in which 151 people lost their lives, including Nerissa Love, the fiancée of New Zealand bowler Bob Blair, whose determination to continue playing despite her pain remains one of the most touching stories in cricket history.