The Crowe–Thorpe Trophy is a Test cricket series played between the men's cricket teams of England and New Zealand. It was launched in November 2024 during England's tour of New Zealand. The two countries have played each other in international cricket since England's 1929–30 tour of New Zealand.
The trophy commemorates the late Martin Crowe (New Zealand) and the late Graham Thorpe (England).
The trophy, made by David Ngawati, is constructed from bats used by each player to score centuries in series between New Zealand and England in 1994 and 1997. It is inlaid with jade/pounamu. According to the artist, it signifies the pinnacle or highest mountain, and the base represents the players' foundation, "their family members on each side, their clubs, their community". Sir Alastair Cook commented, "It’s not often that boards get things absolutely spot on but that is a brilliant trophy"
Prior to the first named edition in 2024, the Crowe–Thorpe Trophy was unveiled by Deb Crowe (Martin's sister) and the former captain of England, Michael Atherton. England won the series in New Zealand, 2–1; the next will be held in England in 2026.
The competition continued a trend in bilateral international cricket series being named after a famous player from each country, such as the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, the Richards–Botham Trophy and the Chappell–Hadlee Trophy.
Background Test series and one-off encounters not under the trophy The two teams first met when the England national cricket team toured Ceylon, Australia and New Zealand in the 1929–30 season. Thereafter, England and New Zealand contested many Test series before 2024.
Years Host Tests SeriesWinner 1929–30 4103 1931 3102 1932–33Also toured Australia 2002 Drawn 1937 3102 1946–47Also toured Australia 1001 Drawn 1949 4004 Drawn 1950–51Also toured Australia 2101 1954–55Also toured Australia 2200 1958 5401 1958–59Also toured Australia 2101 1962–63Also toured Australia 3300 1965 3300 1965–66Also toured Australia 3003 Drawn 1969 3201 1970–71Also toured Australia 2101 1973 3201 1974–75Also toured Australia 2101 1977–78Also toured Pakistan 3111 Drawn 1978 3300 1983 3210 1983–84Also toured Pakistan 3012 1986 3012 1987–88Also toured Australia 3003 Drawn 1990 3102 1991–92 3201 1994 3102 1996–97Also toured Zimbabwe 3201 1999 4121 2001–02 3111 Drawn 2004 3300 2007–08 3211 2008 3201 2012–13 3003 Drawn 2013 2200 2015 2110 Drawn 2017–18 2011 2019–20 2011 2021 2011 2022 3300 2022–23 2110 Drawn
Crowe–Thorpe Trophy series Years HostTests Player of the Series SeriesWinner Holder at series end 2024–25 3210 Harry Brook 2026 3120 Nathan Smith Jofra Archer
Total Series Drawn 2 1 1 0
See also Hillary Shield (the rugby union equivalent)
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