Profile in courage
In the continuing series of the best sports reads of 2018, we go back to March when chief cricket writer Mark Geenty assessed one of the great NZ ODI innings.
It’s easy to get carried away in a wave of emotion and hyperbole after such an innings as Ross Taylor’s. Then you pause, take a deep breath, pace around for a while and try to find reasons why you can’t label it the greatest one-day international cricket innings by a New Zealander.
After a few minutes, it’s futile. Taylor wins. No decision review system required.
Consider the leading contenders. Taylor’s great mate Martin Guptill had three entries, previously the highest three ODI innings by a New Zealander including 237 not out in a World Cup quarterfinal against West Indies. His ball striking in that unbeaten 180 against South Africa in Hamilton a year ago hasn’t been bettered, either.
Former skipper Stephen Fleming’s unbeaten 134 at a heaving Wanderers in Johannesburg in 2003 silenced a sporting nation and sent them towards an early exit from their own World Cup. Nathan Astle guided New Zealand to endless ODI victories; Craig McMillan the current batting coach blasted them towards a record chase against Australia in Hamilton in 2007.
But none of them had the full context of Taylor’s when he strode to the centre of University Oval with his team 2-2, returning from a thigh injury with his side chasing 336 to keep an ODI series alive against England, currently the world’s best ODI team who just beat Australia 4-1 in their own backyard.
On the best pitch produced at the leafy, tree-lined oval, Taylor’s dancing feet were moving from ball one and the white Kookaburra fizzed from the middle of his Gunn and Moore. His favoured cut shot scorched the turf, his cover drive could be packaged up in a coaching video. What injury?
His first half-century took 48 balls, his second another 50 deliveries. It was a polished, classy hundred but there was no hint of what was to follow when he hit the pain barrier and lashed out with devastating results.
He dived to reach his ground after running two and took an age to get up. His thigh was burning, the rest of his body starting to ache as first Kane Williamson then Tom Latham backed him superbly then departed.
A Zimmer frame was almost required; Taylor’s gallop slowed to a canter, then a trot, then a walk. Physio Tommy Simsek made several trips and asked Taylor if he wanted to carry on, or retire hurt. He could have departed then returned, but Taylor insisted.
Running twos was out of the question so he just launched; first his favoured slog sweep honed on the hockey pitch as a boy, then the full swing of the arms over long-on, further and further into the gloomy Dunedin sky. Six sixes in all, as his third 50 took 27 balls. Taylor’s body was slowing but his bat was flailing faster than ever. His right forearm nearly cried enough, too, as he cramped up. But nothing was stopping him.
A Colin de Grandhomme cameo then the lively Henry Nicholls helped finish it; Taylor unbeaten on 181 off 147 balls after a remarkable 213 minutes at the crease. If ever an old-fashioned shoulder-high carry from his team-mates was warranted, it was now. He limped off to an embrace from his skipper, job done, two matchwinning knocks against England in the space of 10 days.
Taylor turns 34 on Thursday and quipped afterwards he won’t be able to drink the favourite bottle of red he’d lined up if he wants to recover for Saturday’s decider in Christchurch. You know what they say about red wine and age. Taylor’s 19th ODI ton was his best, and New Zealand’s best. And you wouldn’t rule out a few more of equal quality before the end of next year’s World Cup, either.