Crowe quits three balls into cricket comeback

Auckland (New Zealand), Nov.21 (ANI): Former New Zealand cricketer and captain Martin Crowe's comeback is over.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Crowe's comeback was restricted to just three balls.

The 49-year-old made the announcement after being forced to retire hurt three deliveries into Saturday's innings for Auckland team Cornwall.

"While getting off the mark yesterday, I pulled a thigh muscle running a normal single into the covers. So three balls into my first premier match back, it's over," Crowe wrote in an email sent to media.

Crowe attempted to return to the sport 16 years after a chronic knee injury forced him into premature retirement.

Saturday's pulled muscle was his fourth in as many months.

"I pulled a hip flexor in July, a hamstring in August, a groin in October and now a thigh, all upper left leg, all compensating for a dodgy arthritic right knee ... So that will do," wrote Crowe, who scored 5444 Test runs at 45.36. (ANI)