At a glance
He may be very much in the veteran category, but there is no sign of Ross Taylor losing his appetite for scoring runs for the Black Caps. Brendon Egan reports.
countryman Rohit Sharma (2677 at 66.92) having churned out more.
Taylor has made a flying start to 2019 in ODI cricket, hitting 503 runs at 71.85, the most by any international batsman, including 137 against Sri Lanka in Nelson.
There’s no question eye surgery has had a massive impact on his ability to pick up the ball more clearly, especially when batting at night or when conditions are overcast.
He confessed he was unable to see the ball swing from the hand in the home tests against Pakistan in 2016 prior to the operation. Not undergoing the knife was never an option.
If left untreated it would have grown across the pupil, obscuring vision or causing a loss of eyesight.
‘‘I think [eye surgery] has definitely had a big part to it and probably a bit of experience has come to the fore as well,’’ Taylor said of his consistency with the bat.
Taylor has never won a major T20 or ODI tournament with the Black Caps in his 13 years with the side.
Having gone so close in 2015, when New Zealand went through unbeaten before losing to Australia by seven wickets in the final at the MCG, Taylor said the dream of a title burned powerfully.
Qualifying for the semifinals from round-robin play won’t be easy with England, India, South Africa, Australia, and possibly Pakistan, if they find form, all in the mix for the top four.
Taylor said New Zealand were desperate to do well in English conditions they’re familiar with and have succeeded in with bat and ball in the past.
‘‘It’s great motivation for everybody, not just myself.
‘‘We had a bit of a taste of a final in Australia in 2015 and there’s a few players in the side that are still there. That’s definitely a big motivation.’’
What: When, where:
New Zealand: Bangladesh: