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McCullum's touching tribute to Crowe

Former skipper, who is battling illness, says World Cup final likely to be final game of cricket he watches

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has paid a touching tribute to ailing former skipper Martin Crowe on the eve of the World Cup final.

Crowe penned an emotional column ahead of the tournament decider, admitting it could be the last game of cricket he watches.

The former batting great, who is terminally ill with a rare blood disease, will be on at hand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday to watch the Black Caps play Australia.

"My precarious life ahead may not afford me the luxury of many more games to watch and enjoy," Crowe wrote on ESPNcricinfo.

"So this is likely to be it. The last, maybe, and I can happily live with that."

McCullum said he read the article on Saturday and was moved by the words of a man he has the utmost admiration for.

Crowe was recently called in to spend some time with the Black Caps squad and appeared to have come to terms with his illness, McCullum said.

"He seems to have found peace with himself and the game as well," he said.

"We're really sad (with) what he's going through. We just really hope he's able to find some peace in the time that he's got left."

McCullum said even up until recently Crowe had been invaluable in working on the batting of senior batsmen Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill.

Crowe described the pair as "the two sons I never had".

The 52-year-old was captain of the celebrated team who reached the 1992 World Cup semi-finals.

He expects sitting through the final to extend him physically and emotionally.

"Without question, this will be the personal cricketing highlight of my life, and I sense for New Zealand too.

"I will hold back tears all day long. I will gasp for air on occasions. I will feel like a nervous parent."