WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – Actor Russell Crowe was a pallbearer Friday at the funeral of former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe, who died March 3 after a long battle with cancer.
Russell Crowe, Martin’s cousin, wasn’t initially expected to attend the service at Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, having taken part in a memorial planned by Martin Crowe in the last days of his illness.
Eulogies were delivered by Martin Crowe’s wife, former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, his brother Jeff and former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith.
Downes described Crowe as “authentic, loving and full of prayer” but said he could also be “intense, restless and complex.”
The funeral included video messages from current New Zealand cricketers Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, who are in India for the World Twenty20 tournament.