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

New Delhi: England are to honor legendary batsman Graham Thorpe by naming a new trophy for the Test series with New Zealand. It will be named after Thorpe and New Zealand batsman Martin Crowe, a tribute to two of their respective nations’ most iconic drinkers.

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

This initiative, which is expected to take effect in the upcoming series starting November 28, aims to honor the legacies of Crowe and Thorpe, The Telegraph reported.

Crowe, often regarded as New Zealand’s best batsman, 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 celebrated as a thoughtful writer and commentator after his playing days, becoming one of cricket’s great thinkers. He died in 2016 at the age of 53 after a three-year battle with lymphoma.

Crowe had a special bond with the games against England, scoring five centuries against them at an average of 40.6. Over a career of 100 Tests, Thorpe averaged 44.7, showing his stamina and scoring prowess.

Thorpe held an outstanding record against New Zealand, averaging 53.2. Of his 16 Test centuries, four came against the Black Caps, including his highest Test score of 200 in Christchurch in 2002. Thorpe died in August 2024.

England and New Zealand last met in a thrilling match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington in 2023, where New Zealand cruised to a one-run victory. The next three-Test series begins in Christchurch on November 28, while further Tests will take place in Wellington and Hamilton before Christmas.

The addition of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy aligns with the recent trend of commemorating cricket’s historic figures through series trophies. England already compete for several such trophies, the Ashes against Australia being the most iconic.

The Richards-Botham Trophy, introduced in 2022, replaced the Wisden Trophy for the England-West Indies series, while the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy marks the series against South Africa. New Zealand have similarly honored significant moments and individuals, most recently with the Tangiwai Shield for Test series against South Africa.

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