Broad eyes Taylor-made target
When Ross Taylor strides to the crease in the first cricket test at Eden Park, England seamer Stuart Broad is sure to be in close attendance.
New Zealand’s star batsman was confirmed in the XI by captain Kane Williamson after overcoming illness - a ‘‘kindy bug’’ - and a thigh injury which sidelined him since his matchwinning 181 not out in the Dunedin ODI a fortnight ago.
While the Black Caps’ hopes in the day-night test starting today received a significant boost with Taylor’s presence, Broad won’t be too unhappy, either.
Poised on 399 test wickets, Broad said this week he would target Taylor, noting his remarkable run of success against the New Zealand No 4.
In 12 tests Broad dismissed Taylor nine times, leaving him behind only Michael Clarke (11 times in 22 tests) and AB de Villiers (10 times in 14 tests) on his greatest hits list.
In Taylor’s 149 test innings, his nine dismissals to Broad are clearly the most ahead of four spinners: Rangana Herath (six times), Monty Panesar, Harbhajan Singh and Ravi Ashwin (five each).
Four of the Broad dismissals were lbw, two of them in the last two-test series against England in 2015.
Broad, 31, will play his 115th test and confirmed his long-time new ball partnership with James Anderson was over as England look to mix up their pace attack.
‘‘Is there certain things we can look at and be a bit more flexible with how we bowl, not be so predictable, try and create pressure for longer, is there ways we target certain batsmen with certain bowlers?,’’ Broad told Sky Sports UK.
‘‘For me, I’ve got a good record against Ross Taylor, [dismissed him] nine times in test cricket. If Ross is going to bat four, can I be fresh and bowl my first 30 balls at Ross Taylor if we’re lucky enough to get early wickets?’’
Broad has been hit or miss against New Zealand, with 51 wickets from 12 tests at an average of 27.94, slightly below his career mark of 29.33.
On the last tour in 2013 Broad took 6-51 in the Wellington draw, then toiled for a combined 2-148 off 47 overs at Eden Park as the series ended 0-0. Later that year he destroyed the Black Caps at Lord’s with 7-44.
In five Ashes tests in Australia, Broad took 11 wickets at 47.72. Since that series ended in early January, Broad spent much of his break working at the Nottinghamshire indoor school on adjustments to his action.
‘‘I feel like something good is coming my way the way the ball is coming out,’’ he said.
Taylor, meanwhile, arrives in the form of his life at age 34. He cracked two matchwinning tons in three ODI innings against England and in 2017, since surgery to remove a growth on his eye, he averaged 81.60 from five tests.
His 107 not out against West Indies in Hamilton in December drew him level with Williamson and his late friend and mentor Martin Crowe on a New Zealand record 17 test centuries.
‘‘I’m feeling really good at the moment. I’ve actually been crook. Got the kindy bugs from the kids and I haven’t been able to run and yesterday [Tuesday] was the first day,’’ Taylor told Radio Sport in an interview alongside team-mate Tom Latham.
‘‘It’s going really well and I’m pretty confident I’ll be playing the test. Stand at first slip and if anything goes to third man I’ll just say to Tom ‘run and grab that one’.’’