Taylor brave but doubtful
WHEN Ross Taylor slowly made his way out to the middle, you had to wondered whether he was resigned to missing the rest of the series.
The talented Black Caps righthander retired hurt on day two of the test against South Africa in Dunedin.
He has a low grade calf tear but and he tested it out yesterday morning in the nets. Onlookers suggested he was struggling but Taylor bravely elected to bat later in the day and helped New Zealand eke out a further 17 runs.
The Black Caps will monitor the injury and a make a decision on his availability for the second test in Wellington next week at the conclusion of the Dunedin test tomorrow.
But he did not look good.
He was moving very gingerly, although he still managed to whack a Morne Morkel delivery for six over square leg. A nice heave and very well received by the crowd.
‘‘Medical staff will be monitoring it over the next few days to see where he is at,’’ teammate BJ Watling said.
‘‘But he did a great job for us to sneak 20 runs and get a small lead.’’
If Taylor is ruled out for the second test, and the evidence suggests he will miss the game, then perhaps Otago’s Neil Broom will take his place.
Black Caps oneday opener Martin Guptill is out for the season with a hamstring complaint. Auckland’s Colin Munro might not have the discipline the selectors are looking for from a test player.
That leaves Broom and Northern Districts Dean Brownlie as perhaps the strongest candidates.
If Taylor is absent next week, his replacement will be standing in a fairly large shadow.