Black Caps’ attitude needs to change
AUCKLAND: Ross Taylor has urged the Black Caps to address their ‘‘attitude’’ on the pitch following a disastrous start to their twenty20 series against India.
The Black Caps produced a pitiful 132 for five as India stormed to a sevenwicket win on Sunday, just two days after the visiting side hunted it down with six wickets and six balls to spare.
New Zealand was left with plenty to ponder for the remainder of the series, even more so with the World T20 later this year.
When asked his thoughts on Radio Sport breakfast yesterday, Taylor said it was difficult to single out what went wrong performancewise, but that their approach needed to change.
‘‘We just have to do everything better,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘Batting, I think we've been good in parts and with the ball, but we've been completely outplayed.
‘‘In the field is an area where our attitude needs to improve.
‘‘This is where we need the senior players to step up, myself included, to help us hopefully get on the board.’’
‘‘India's bowling was hailed in both matches, Jasprit Bumrah, in particular, exposing the
Black Caps batsmen.
Taylor admitted Bumrah was a challenge to prepare for.
‘‘I wish I could find a thrower who could throw like Bumrah, that would be very helpful,’’ Taylor joked.
‘‘[He's] very unique and you've just got to try and improve. I've faced a lot of him in this series with not a lot of success but you've just got to trust what you're doing is right.
‘‘He's been a worldclass player for a long time not only in this format, the onedayers and test series. He's going to play a big part in this series.’’
The Black Caps are in Hamilton preparing for tonight’s third match in the Twenty20 series.
The match is scheduled for 8pm at Seddon Park.
Meanwhile, Taylor added his thoughts over the loss of NBA great Kobe Bryant.
The Los Angeles Lakers icon and Gianna, one of his and wife Vanessa's four children, were killed on Monday when their chopper crashed into hills in Calabasas, California.
Taylor said the news felt surreal.
‘‘I'm of the generation NBA became more popular around Michael Jordan and then Kobe. Anyone who is known around the world by their first name, that's a pretty big athlete,’’ he said.
‘‘Being a father, wanting the best for your kids, that probably hit home a bit more . . . what a sad story it is.’’ — The New Zealand Herald