‘ODI loss to India will help address grey areas; won’t quit in a hurry’
COUNTRY FIRST Kiwi batsman says his IPL career is over & the forthcoming 50-over World Cup could be his last
AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s most experienced cricketer Ross Taylor, 34, speaks about the 2019 World Cup being his last, how an eye operation gave him a lease of life and missing the Indian Premier League.
Excerpts
New Zealand lost 4-1 in the ODI series to India. Is this a shock before the World Cup?
A better team beat us. When you are completely outplayed, there are positives but it came at the right time because now we know we have a few areas to address before the World Cup. Doing better against a team like India might have papered over them and now we feel if we can improve, we can be really competitive in England.
India play NZ in Nottingham on June 13. Will your county experience last year be of advantage?
It is definitely an advantage but you still have to play well. It was in my mind when I went to play County cricket, not just at Nottingham, but a lot of other grounds where we will be playing in the World Cup. There are a lot of little differences at English grounds and it gives you a bit of advantage having played there.
You have been in great form lately. Did the eye operation help you get a second wind?
I had a pterygium on my left eye because of exposure to sun and wind in New Zealand. I couldn’t see the ball in dark, didn’t like batting in day-night games and hated fielding under lights. I couldn’t see the ball in the 2015 Gabba Test. But I took some eye drops and got 290 in the next match (laughs). Specialists told me to get operated, and I had training session two weeks after (the operation). I could see the ball swinging from the hand, which I hadn’t seen in a long time. Also, over time I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge, which helps me sum up the situation better. I 90 215 88 In 2018, Taylor featured in 11 ODIS scoring 639 runs at an exceptional average of 91.28 In 2019, Taylor played 8 matches till date, scoring 458 runs at an average of 65.42 Taylor needs 109 runs to complete 8000 ODI runs Taylor needs 117 runs to surpass former captain Stephen Fleming (8007 runs) as the highest ODI run aggregator for New Zealand He is 10 matches away from completing 100 Tests, a feat only Fleming (111), Brendon and had 4-5 days off, then played a minnow and you might not even get to bat. So it could be 10-12 days off. I like this format and think it will be good — 1992 was like that. England does have a bit of weather, so luck will play a part as well.
You are among the top scorers for NZ across formats. Satisfied? The day you are satisfied is the day you need to retire, I think. There are still things I would like to achieve. I joke a little bit that I am old because I am the oldest in this team. But I still feel young and still have a few years to contribute to New Zealand cricket. I love playing for my country and I feel I can get better as a player. The day I don’t feel that, I will have to retire. I want to score a few more runs and wins, and give my best. 290 181* 63
You spoke about this being the last World Cup. What else is left? 45.93 47.82 25.88 59.63 83.28 17 20 121.08 0 30 46 5 Mccullum (101) and Daniel Vettori (112) has achieved for New Zealand
Currently second on the list of most Test runs for New Zealand, Taylor (6523 runs) needs 650 runs to go past Fleming’s record of 7172 runs Already the top ODI centurion for New Zealand with 20 hundreds, Taylor is joint second (17 tons) on the Test centurions’ list. Current captain Kane Williamson has 19 while former captain Martin Crowe has 17 to his name Test cricket is still high on my priorities. I would like to play 100 Tests. New Zealand haven’t played a Boxing Day Test in Australia since the 1980s, so there are quite a few things I would like to hang around for. At the same time, you don’t want to do just that and want to be playing an active role in the team. I still have a desire to go on, so no time-frame yet.
You have represented quite a few franchises in the IPL. What was your biggest highlight there?
I really loved playing with international players and Indian domestic players in the same team.
Learning from them has helped narrow the gap with New Zealand cricket. We were little brothers to teams like India,
South Africa and
Australia, but we are a lot closer on the field now in terms of performance. Cricket is India’s religion and to experience that, and for the local fans to embrace me as their own, is something I will never forget. Going out to a packed Chinnaswamy to chants of ‘Taylor Taylor’… I had family there. They will never forget it and I definitely won’t. I do miss it at times, but playing time in the IPL for me is gone.
There is a World Cup every four years, so you want to have a big push towards that. I have put emphasis on my game. It will probably be my last World Cup.
In bilateral ODIS, teams can figure you out but in a World Cup like this, you are playing a different team each day, so you can be on top of your game.
Brendon Mccullum retired early to play T20 franchise cricket. Does that tempt you?
I don’t think I will retire earlier from international cricket just to go and do the T20 circuit because I love playing for New Zealand. Playing for a different franchise every month is not something that appeals to me as much as playing in front of family and friends here.
Playing for a different franchise every month is not something that appeals to me as much as playing in front of family and friends here in New Zealand.