Taylor signals intention to play in fifth World Cup
CRICKET
BLACK Caps veteran Ross Taylor has offered some clarity about his future in the side.
The 36yearold has signalled his intention to play in a fifth oneday World Cup.
He has been fending off retirement questions for a few years now but yesterday told media he planned to be around in 2023 for the World Cup in India.
‘‘Twentytwentythree was going to be a stretch, I think, at the best of times, when it was February and March,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘And now the World Cup has been dragged out to
October and
November ’23, it’s another six or seven months to hang around.
“But you’ve got to have shortterm goals and longterm goals and the oneday World Cup is definitely on the radar.
“I might have to trim things back leading into that — as I said, I’m not getting any younger.
“It doesn’t mean I will make it. But it’s definitely one of my goals.”
Taylor is closing in on Daniel Vettori’s record as the most capped New Zealander over all three formats.
Vettori made 437 appearances for his country — Taylor trails by five games but should overhaul Vettori this summer.
‘‘I suppose I’ve still got to get there,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘My mentor, Martin Crowe, always used to say, ‘Records are meant to be broken and are there for the next guy to come and beat’.
‘‘Whatever games I end up on then hopefully Kane [Williamson] and whoever comes through can beat that and keep setting the bar high.’’
As for life after cricket, Taylor said he had given it some thought during the break for Covid19.
‘‘I don’t think sitting on the couch being a critic is going to be enough,’’ he said, before adding how fortunate he was to be able to continue playing the game he loves.
The Black Caps host the West
Indies at Eden Park in the first of three twenty internationals on Friday night.
Taylor bats in the middle order these days.
‘‘It is a tough game when you bat in the middle order but I’m pretty clear on my role.
‘‘If given the opportunity I’d like to bat up the order but I’m pretty happy with where I’m at and hopefully can continue where I left off last year.’’
Prolific Wellington lefthander Devon Conway, who shapes as the heir apparent when Taylor does vacate his test spot, is poised to make his international debut in Friday’s T20.
Conway has been the form player in domestic cricket for a few seasons and Taylor is sure it will be a start of a great career.
The West Indies is the T20 world champion and brings plenty of excitement and Xfactor.
Lefthanders Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran and the likes of the captain, Kieron Pollard, should ensure the game is a good watch.
SYDNEY: Steve Smith has told India to bring it on if it wants to follow New Zealand’s lead by peppering him with bouncers this summer.
But he’s warned them: They won’t be able to do it with the same impact as awkward Kiwi paceman Neil Wagner.
Wagner got Smith four times in three tests last summer, although the Australian batsman still managed to average 63.66 in the first innings of those tests.
Smith has long denied that
New Zealand exposed any real deficiencies in his game using tactics captain Tim Paine compared to bodyline.
In an interview in January, Smith claimed all the talk about it was a ‘‘beatup’’ and pointed out he faced more balls last home summer than most others.
He has also been quick to point out that there are few bowlers in the world like leftarmer Wagner.
The Black Cap was a constant threat last summer, regularly having the Australian batsmen in two minds with balls aimed between the hip and ribs at around 130kmh.
By comparison, India’s most likely shortball exponents Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are rightarmers who bowl significantly quicker.
‘‘If others want to take that type of approach, then great,’’ Smith said yesterday.
‘‘It’s not the same as what Neil does and the way he bowls it. People can go for that.
‘‘In a way it’s a bit of flattery if people believe that is the only way they can get me out because they have exhausted so many more options.
‘‘It gives me a lot of confidence to know that.’’
India has attempted to follow Wagner’s lead against Smith already this year.
In the oneday series in India the Indian team hit him with shortpitch bowling in its first crack at him, but Smith was able to ride it out without offering a chance.
He hit 98 in that game, before backing it up with 131 in the next.
He’s ready to play the long game again if India attempts to bounce him out in the BorderGavaskar Trophy beginning December 17 in Adelaide.
‘‘While I had some contributions [last summer], my strike rate was down,’’ Smith said.
‘‘Test cricket, that’s the beauty of it. You can bat for as long as you like and build partnerships.’’
Smith had a relatively quiet tournament in the recent IPL in the United Arab Emirates, scoring 311 runs at 25.91 in 14 matches. He averaged 41.40 in the previous three years of the tournament.
The 31yearold said he had hardly picked up a bat during the early months of the Covid19 pandemic and then struggled on Australia’s limitedovers tour of England, where he scored 31 runs in three twenty20 innings.
But back in isolation in Sydney after returning from the UAE, Smith said he felt like he had found his rhythm and was striking the ball better and able to place it where he wanted.
‘‘The past few days I have found something . . . I have found my hands, which I am extremely excited about,’’ Smith told reporters yesterday.
‘‘It’s just getting that feel of the bat behind my toe the right way, the way my hands come up the bat.’’ — AAP