Broken bone could cost Taylor $1m
One painful delivery could have cost New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor $1.35 million.
Last night Taylor was nursing a fractured left forearm after a thunderbolt from South African fast bowler Morne Morkel on day four of the third test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
It will rule him out of most, if not all, of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting on April 4. Taylor was poised to take up what was understood to be a US$1.1M (NZ$1.35M) per season contract with the Delhi Daredevils. He was traded for an undisclosed sum last month by his former team, the Rajasthan Royals, which signed the batsman for US$1M the previous season. IPL cricketers are only paid for the matches they play.
That left New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) boss Heath Mills, who was at the Basin yesterday, predicting a big financial hit for the country’s first million-dollar cricketer.
‘‘Obviously it’s very disappointing for Ross, and it will have a major impact on his earning potential in the IPL,’’ Mills said. The only compensation for Taylor could be insurance offered through FICA, the parent body of the NZCPA.
No-one could confirm last night whether Taylor had taken out a policy.
He may yet recover to play in the latter stages of the IPL, which runs until May 27.
New Zealand Cricket medical director Ian Murphy would not speculate on a return date until Taylor had seen an orthopaedic surgeon.
‘‘The break [of the ulna bone] is not displaced, which is a positive sign,’’ he said. Taylor would not miss any international matches, aside from today. New Zealand’s next tour to the West Indies starts in late June.
Taylor tried to bat on, but eventually retired hurt, with his wrist swollen and left arm hanging at his side.
New Zealand assistant coach
Trent Woodhill said Taylor was ‘‘gutted’’ that his promising innings of 18 was cut short. He backed Taylor to make a speedy recovery.
‘‘I wouldn’t underestimate Ross and his powers of recuperation. The way he came back from his calf injury [against Zimbabwe on January 27], I think he will work hard to be right [for the IPL].’’