Veteran Taylor needs to justify T20 selection
NEWDELHI: Ross Taylor could end his 19-month exile from T20 format this week after being selected in New Zealand’s squad for the three-match series against India. Taylor, who appeared to have played his last T20 international for the Black Caps, was named as Todd Astle’s replacement in the 15-man squad. The 33-year-old hasn’t featured in the shortest format of the game since New Zealand’s loss to England in the semi-finals of 2016 World T20.
Colin Munro, Corey Anderson and Tom Bruce occupied positions three to five during the series against Bangladesh and South Africa earlier this year and coach Mike Hesson made it clear that there must be a ‘free spot’ for Taylor to be considered again for T20 selection.
“First and foremost there needs to be a position available. Munro, Anderson and Bruce have done incredibly well through the middle order,” Hesson had said. “It’s very difficult for Ross because he is not going to get many T20 opportunities; I understand it is a catch 22. “We know Ross is a quality player and we know he is keen to play T20s but at the moment we have got a side performing pretty well.” With Anderson not being a part of the squad, Taylor could be drafted into the playing XI at his usual No 4 position. However, his axe from the T20 squad seemed justified in the first place. Since 2013, Taylor has registered just one fifty-plus score in 22 innings. It was in 2012, he averaged 46.50 in eight games and scored 186 runs at a healthy strike rate of 131.91. But since then, it has been a rough ride for the former skipper. An average of 24.15 in a T20I career spanning 73 matches doesn’t warrant selection. Taylor also had a somewhat underwhelming World T20 in India last year, making 91 runs in five innings. His highest score in his last 14 innings is 36*. In the recent ODI series, which New Zealand lost 1-2, Taylor started with a match-winning 95 at the Wankhede but lost his wicket at crucial junctures in Pune and Kanpur. At 33, he is not getting younger and questions about his future, especially in the shorter formats, will be raised. After all, it’s a matter of performing well or making way.