Former Kiwi bowler salutes Taylor after heroic century
dubai – On March 3, it was Martin Crowe’s second death anniversary. And, on March 7, his protégé Ross Taylor played one of the best second innings knock witnessed in an ODI match.
Chasing a mammoth 336 to win in the fourth ODI against England and with both their batsmen – Martin Guptill and Colin Munro back in the pavilion without scoring – it required a herculean effort from someone. And that player turned out to be Ross Taylor.
Despite struggling with a thigh injury, Taylor belted an unbeaten 181 to steer his team home and force the decider with England which will be played on Saturday.
Former New Zealand cricketer Danny Morrison, who is commentating at the Pakistan Super League, went as far as to rate Taylor’s knock among the top five by a New Zealander. “Ross is a character. I wonder with Ross, when he had a lean period, particularly when his mentor and batting advisor Martin Crowe was ill after the 2015 World Cup and died the following year in March, I wonder whether that possibly affected him,” Morrison said.
“So yeah, I’m very pleased for Ross because he’s had his ups and downs with fitness and particularly his struggles with hamstrings and calf injuries so he’s had a history of that so playing an innings like that, to be not out when your team is under the pump and you lose both openers, shows the character in him.
“I think for New Zealand players Ross’ innings would be rated as the top five knocks. It was absolutely great, stoic stuff from an injured batsman. It was obviously difficult to first get to a hundred, and then he got it and went on to get another 80 so it speaks volumes for Ross’ character.”
Morrison was asked whether New Zealand should risk playing a half-fit Taylor in the final. “It’s a tough call to play Ross in the decider because you have a Test series (against England) coming up. It is a gamble and the selectors will have to make that call,” he said.
However, when it comes to playing in the final, the Kiwis tend to develop cold feet. Khaleej Times wanted to know what is it that makes them choke at the last hurdle.
“Sometimes there are a lot of factors that come into it. Is there an expectation? No, not really. So I think for us, as New Zealanders, we are almost like ‘wow’ we made the final, but well we haven’t’ won it yet you know, so that’s where I think possibly our mental psyche around playing deciders, getting 2-2 and you have the fifth one and then go on to lose that,” he said.
Morrison recalled the World Cup 2015 final defeat to Australia and the semifinal loss to Pakistan in 1999.
“It goes on and on. So yeah, it is a funny thing. There is no expectation with cricket. So when you look at the rugby team how they are the No. 1 side in the world – they win World Cups and titles. But it’s really hard in cricket to put your finger on it. We make it to the final or the playoffs and then we just fall apart.”