Stirring moment students from cricketing great Martin Crowe's old school perform a haka at his funeral - as his cousin Russell Crowe carries the casket out of church

  • New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe died last Thursday, aged 53, after a long battle with cancer
  • Funeral was held on Friday in Parnell, in Auckland, with up to 1000 mourners turning out to pay their respects
  • Was attended by friends, New Zealand cricketers and former teammates and family, including actor Russell Crowe
  • New Zealand cricketers Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor also payed tribute to his life
  • Martin Crowe played for NZ national cricket team between 1982 and 1995 and was admired for his commentary 

By Ashleigh Davis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:27 EST, 10 March 2016 | Updated: 07:31 EST, 13 March 2016

Martin Crowe's wife has spoken of the cricketing great as her soul mate and 'a beautiful man' in a touching eulogy she delivered at his funeral on Friday in New Zealand.

Hundreds of friends, family, including his cousin, actor Russell Crowe, and former team mates gathered to farewell Martin Crowe, who died at 53 last Thursday after a long battle with cancer.

Adorned with a large bunch of white flowers a monarch butterfly, and an inscription of his daughter's birth date, Martin Crowe's casket sat in the centre of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland.

Fighting back tears, Lorraine Downes expressed her 'eternal gratitude' to her husband in the eulogy, reported the NZ Herald. 

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Martin Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes (centre right) and family after the funeral service at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

Martin Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes (centre right) and family after the funeral service at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

'When the cancer arrived he did the courageous work of facing himself, and from that internal work he finally saw what we knew about him, that he was a gentle kind and loving soul,' she said.

'That peace made him able to touch the lives of others close to him for the better.

'I will be forever grateful to you my darling for what you shared with me, for truly showing me what living in the moment means and what being loved and cherished feels like.'

The pall bearers including Crowe's cousin Russell Crowe (front right) carrying the casket after the service

The pall bearers including Crowe's cousin Russell Crowe (front right) carrying the casket after the service

Earlier today Mrs Downes shared a heartfelt image on social media of the cricketing legend's hand intertwined with her own and captioned it 'Marty, you truly loved me well. Forever grateful to you, my beautiful man. It all will never be forgotten. Until we meet again.'

Crowe played for the New Zealand national cricket team between 1982 and 1995 and was also a widely respected commentator.

The three hour service began at 1pm with a standing ovation as a video of Crowe's innings of 142 against England at Lord's in 1994 was played. 

Martin Crowe's brother Jeff Crowe described his 'bold and beautiful' brother as a fabulous, loving and caring father, a son of substance and a magnanimous mate.

He also spoke of the strength of his sister-in-law and his niece in the face of their loss.  

The ceremony included a eulogy by Mrs Downes, and tributes from his brother Jeff Crowe and his former international teammate Ian Smith. 

Actor and Martin Crowe's cousin, Russell Crowe (centre) and his sons arriving at the funeral service in Auckland

Actor and Martin Crowe's cousin, Russell Crowe (centre) and his sons arriving at the funeral service in Auckland

Ian Smith recalled Crowe's younger years as 'young super star in the making' at Auckland Grammar, and used one word to sum up his mate - passion.

'But his reputation was justified, he had a confidence a presence backed up with a very clear superb technique even then,' Smith said. 

Fellow cricketers Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor also remembered Crowe's career. 

Wife Lorraine Downes (right) pictured outside after the funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

Wife Lorraine Downes (right) pictured outside after the funeral service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

David Lyle Morris, described as Crowe's best friend, composed and performed a song. 

Current students and staff from Auckland Grammar formed a guard of honour as the casket was carried from the cathedral in Parnell after the service.

As his casket was put into the hearse, family members lay petals on top and students performed the haka as a tribute to the cricketing great. 

Cricketing great Martin Crowe's casket pictured inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland. In a touching tribute to his daughter her birth date was etched on his casket - 15/4/2003

Cricketing great Martin Crowe's casket pictured inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland. In a touching tribute to his daughter her birth date was etched on his casket - 15/4/2003

Funeral guests pictured in front of the Martin Crowe's casket paying tribute, inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

Funeral guests pictured in front of the Martin Crowe's casket paying tribute, inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland

Martin Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes delivers the eulogy, during the service, calling her late husband her soul mate and 'a beautiful man'

Martin Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes delivers the eulogy, during the service, calling her late husband her soul mate and 'a beautiful man'

The pall bearers with Russell Crowe (front right) with the casket outside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland

The pall bearers with Russell Crowe (front right) with the casket outside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland

A large group of Auckland Grammar boys performing the haka outside the funeral service in Auckland

A large group of Auckland Grammar boys performing the haka outside the funeral service in Auckland

The boys made a guard of honour for the cricketer before his casket was put in the hearse, and family and friends lay petals on top

The boys made a guard of honour for the cricketer before his casket was put in the hearse, and family and friends lay petals on top

Martin Crowe's brother Jeff Crowe (centre) among the crowd of guests at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Martin Crowe's brother Jeff Crowe (centre) among the crowd of guests at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Actor and cousin Russell Crowe and his sons pictured arriving at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Actor and cousin Russell Crowe and his sons pictured arriving at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Actor Russell Crowe, Martin Crowe's cousin, and his sons arriving at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Actor Russell Crowe, Martin Crowe's cousin, and his sons arriving at the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Sir Richard Hadlee (centre) pictured outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Sir Richard Hadlee (centre) pictured outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Snedden (centre) outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland 

Former New Zealand cricketer Martin Snedden (centre) outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland 

Laura McGoldrick (left) wife of Black cap Martin Guptill outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Laura McGoldrick (left) wife of Black cap Martin Guptill outside the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Former Black Cap Lou Vincent (left) pictured outside the the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Former Black Cap Lou Vincent (left) pictured outside the the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Black Cap Daniel Vettori (left) pictured outside after the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Black Cap Daniel Vettori (left) pictured outside after the funeral service in Parnell, Auckland

Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry (right) and Lady Rawene Henry (left) at the funeral service

Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry (right) and Lady Rawene Henry (left) at the funeral service

Fomer Black Caps Dion Nash (right) and Adam Parore (left) at the funeral service in Auckland

Fomer Black Caps Dion Nash (right) and Adam Parore (left) at the funeral service in Auckland

Cricketing legend Sir Richard Hadlee pictured amongst the crowd of people at the service in Auckland

Cricketing legend Sir Richard Hadlee pictured amongst the crowd of people at the service in Auckland

Former athlete and politician Les Mills pictured outside the service in Auckland

Former athlete and politician Les Mills pictured outside the service in Auckland

Funeral guests pictured in front of the casket inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland. The casket featured a monarch butterfly on the front and an inscription of his daughter's birth date

Funeral guests pictured in front of the casket inside the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, Auckland. The casket featured a monarch butterfly on the front and an inscription of his daughter's birth date

Martin Crowe pictured with his wife Lorraine Downes at the New Zealand Cricket Awards on April 1, 2015

Martin Crowe pictured with his wife Lorraine Downes at the New Zealand Cricket Awards on April 1, 2015

An image Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes posted on social media before the cricketing great's funeral on Friday in Auckland

An image Crowe's wife Lorraine Downes posted on social media before the cricketing great's funeral on Friday in Auckland

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