Taylor returns to happy hunting ground
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 Cricket 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 preplanned 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 down 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 Madame 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.’’
Taylor has piled on the runs at the University Oval, notching 436 ODI runs at 87.2 from six innings. His test numbers at the venue are just as outstanding, scoring 562 in seven matches at 80.3. With the ODI series already in the bag against Bangladesh after two crushing eight wicket wins, New Zealand have a chance to fine tune. It will be the last opportunity for several fringe World Cup candidates to stake their claim.
Bangladesh have been bitterly disappointing in the first two matches, hindered by a limited build-up, having come straight from their T20 Premier League competition finals.