Taylor returns to happy hunting ground
At a glance
Ross Taylor’s eyes must light up when he peers across Dunedin’s University Oval.
The boutique Otago ground has been a run-scoring haven for the veteran Black Caps batsman and the scene of two of his greatest international innings.
Taylor could add another illustrious milestone to his storied career at the venue today when New Zealand face Bangladesh in the ‘dead rubber’ third ODI – their last 50-over match before the World Cup, which starts against Sri Lanka on June 1.
He requires just 51 runs to surpass Stephen Fleming (8007), his first Black Caps captain, as New Zealand’s leading ODI run scorer.
Tom Latham will captain the side, and remain wicketkeeper in Dunedin with Kane Williamson having a pre-planned break. For the third time in an ODI this home summer, New Zealand have a different opening batting combination with Colin Munro handed another opportunity alongside Martin Guptill, fresh off back-to-back centuries in the first two Bangladesh ODIS. Henry Nicholls will drop to three.
University Oval has fond memories for Taylor. He heroically led New Zealand to an unlikely ODI win over England there last March, blasting 181 not out – his highest ODI score and the third highest by a Kiwi batsman in a 50-over match.
Taylor effectively batted on one leg for the second half of his innings, dealing with a quadriceps injury in his right leg.
‘‘I had Madam Woo [Malaysian cuisine] the night before [that match] and I think it’s closed, so lucky I’m not superstitious before the game,’’ Taylor quipped yesterday.
Taylor also achieved his first test double century at the ground, against the West Indies in December 2013, hitting an unbeaten 217.
His match-winning ODI knock against England in Dunedin, which lifted New Zealand from the jaws of defeat, is the one he reflects on most proudly.
New Zealand were in strife at 2-2 chasing 336, but stunned the tourists with Taylor’s destructive hitting late in the match.
‘‘I don’t think it was until we got to maybe around the 40th over that I thought we had a good chance of winning it.
‘‘The quad gave way. In hindsight it was probably a good thing to stand and deliver. I wasn’t able to do much running.’’
What:
New Zealand v Bangladesh, third ODI
When, where:
University Oval, Dunedin; 11am today
New Zealand (from):
Tom Latham (c), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Todd Astle.
Bangladesh (from):
Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nayeem Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam.