Wisden overview
Although the elder of the two Crowe brothers, Jeff first came to Test cricket in 1982-83, a year after his immensely gifted younger brother Martin. This was partly because he had launched his own career in South Australia, where he played with considerable success from 1977 and 1982. The Australian selectors were interested, but he decided to return to his own land, and formed part of New Zealand cricket's most successful era. Tall, fair-haired and solidly built, and a most reliable fielder who could also keep wicket, Jeff looked so much like his younger brother that the pair used to delight in swapping helmets to confuse commentators. Given the daunting task of going in at first wicket down against the West Indian fast bowlers in the Caribbean in 1984-85, he responded with some sound and courageous innings, notably 112 in the follow on at Sabina Park. He captained New Zealand in six Tests. Christopher Martin-Jenkins

Adapted by Wisden from World Cricketers: A Biographical Dictionary (Oxford, 1996).