The Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, a collaboration with the men's families, is made from wood sourced from their bats.

Ross Taylor goes into the first Test against Bangladesh on Thursday on the brink of equalling his late mentor Martin Crowe's record for New Zealand centuries.

Pioneering cricketer Martin Crowe, widely acknowledged as New Zealand's greatest batsman who laid the foundations for Twenty20 cricket, was hailed a "hero" Thursday after he died of cancer aged 53.

New Zealand swing pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult will look to put the hosts' new-look batting lineup to the sword at the Gabba from Thursday as the tourists chase their first series win in Australia for 30 years.