Black Caps take cautious approach over Taylor

Expect to see Ross Taylor facing a pink ball in the first test against England under lights.

That’s the encouraging message from Black Caps coach Mike Hesson after the star batsman was unable to recover from a thigh injury and ruled out of Saturday’s ODI series decider in Christchurch, which New Zealand lost by seven wickets.

Hesson was confident Taylor would be fine for the opening test at Auckland’s Eden Park, starting on March 22, the first day-night test to be played in New Zealand.

Taylor aggravated the injury in the fourth ODI in Dunedin on Wednesday during his heroic 181 not out, which helped lead New Zealand to a victory against the odds.

He has been named in a New Zealand XI side to face England in a two-day red ball match in Hamilton on Friday and Saturday, but Hesson said he was ‘‘unlikely’’ to play in that. A separate New Zealand XI team will also take on England in a pink ball warm-up on Wednesday and Thursday.

Members of the test squad not involved in those matches will attend a training camp in Tauranga. ‘‘Ross will either play a part in that or he’ll train around [his hometown] Hamilton area,’’

Hesson said.

Taylor was only able to run at 70 per cent without discomfort while taking a fitness examination on Saturday morning before the

final ODI. After a discussion between him and the medical staff it was decided not to risk aggravating the injury.

A cautious approach with Taylor would be taken over the next week to ensure he is fit for Auckland.

‘‘We’re not going to force it too soon to make sure he’s ready for the first test,’’ Hesson said.

‘‘We know how to work with Ross, in terms of what he needs to prepare for the test match. We certainly won’t put his position at risk by pushing it too hard, too soon.’’

New Zealand’s test squad will be predictable with wicketkeeper BJ Watling likely to be the only major change from the side that beat the West Indies 2-0 in early December.

Watling missed the series with a left hip issue sustained in warmups before the first Plunket Shield match in October.

He was replaced by Wellington’s Tom Blundell, who hit 107 not out on test debut at his Basin Reserve home ground.

Watling, who has played 52 tests since 2009, was restricted to batting at the start of the domestic summer, but has been behind the stumps in Northern Districts’ last two Plunket Shield four-day matches.

He kept for the first time this summer in ND’s 50-over Ford Trophy minor semifinal against Canterbury on February 17.

The second test is in Christchurch from March 30-April 3.

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