Taylor out of Shield opener
Veteran Black Caps batter Ross Taylor will miss the opening round of the domestic cricket season.
Taylor represents Central Districts, who start their Plunket Shield campaign in Christchurch against Canterbury on
Saturday, but lives in Hamilton.
With the city under level 3 restrictions which include travel, Taylor is unable to join the Stags for the start of the first-class competition.
It’s understood the side is also set to be without Black Caps left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, with the ninetest bowler based in Auckland and also subject to travel restrictions.
It’s believed Taylor and Patel didn’t apply for travel exemptions as part of their employment.
Taylor, 37, had been in line to play his first competitive match since hitting the winning runs in the World Test Championship final against India in June. He was due to be up against fellow New Zealand stars Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Matt Henry, who are all expected to play for the defending Shield champions at Hagley Oval.
Taylor will miss part of the domestic season later this year when he joins the Black Caps for two tests in India.
Auckland and Northern Districts will miss the first round of a reshuffled Plunket Shield draw due to the Covid-19 restrictions for training and travel, while New Zealand Cricket awaits further announcements tomorrow to see if ND will be able to play against Otago in Dunedin in their four-day game starting on October 30.
The Auckland Aces were to open their Plunket Shield campaign on November 7 in Nelson against the Central Stags. On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Auckland would stay in level 3 until at least early November. She also said she would reveal a roadmap for Auckland and wider New Zealand on Covid restrictions tomorrow, linked to vaccination rates.
NZ Cricket is set to announce the domestic Twenty20 Super Smash schedule on Wednesday.