Black Caps hit Napier
Ross Taylor excited for challenge against ‘world’s best ODI batsman’
Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor is excited about the formidable challenge India will bring to Napier on and off the field tomorrow.
Fresh from a dominant performance in Australia, India start their tour of New Zealand with a one-day return to McLean Park, a venue which lost its international status the past two summers due to substandard facilities.
But after a major revamp, McLean Park is back, and strong crowds are expected as India make their first visit to New Zealand since 2014.
“Any time India come here, they’re a powerhouse,” said Taylor. “The New Zealand Indian community come out and support them, and often there are just as many Indians in the crowd as Kiwis. It’s great to play in front of a packed house and many of those supporters back New Zealand when India aren’t in the country.”
Taylor felt New Zealand coach Gary Stead and the national selectors would use the India tour as a yardstick to nut out a possible 15-man squad for the ODI World Cup in England from May to July.
The 34-year old said India were far from the mix of yesteryear that banked on the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni to bat them out of trouble before countering with a docile bowling attack.
“Virat Kohli is a sensational player and probably the best one-day player going around, so it’s easy to get caught up with him, but you have two pretty good openers in [Rohit] Sharma and [Shikar] Dhawan even before Kohli gets in, so I’m sure the fast bowlers will have their work cut out.”
Taylor said while India’s batsmen did their job, it was the seamers who showed their prowess and would relish the bounce they didn’t enjoy in India.
“You saw in their test series [in Australia] how their depth, in their pace bowling especially, has come through to go on to win the series against a very good side.”
Taylor, who returns to the scene of his 2006 ODI debut, is in the form of his life, becoming the first New Zealander to reach 20 ODI centuries against Sri Lanka in Nelson. Since the start of 2018, Taylor averages 92 from 13 ODI innings, bettered only by Kohli, who averages 113 in the same period.
“From the fan point of view, to see Kohli in the flesh will be pretty exciting as well.”
Taylor said India would raise the bar as the world No 2 side, despite a good hit-out against Sri Lanka.
“It’s good to head out to Napier,” he said. “It’s been a while. It’s a home ground for the Stags and there’s been a few dramas but it looks like the ground and venue are in good nick.”
Taylor said teams had to earn the right to post a 300-plus return, although it was possible to fall shy of that mark and still win.