Every team has an unsung hero who silently goes on about the job, unnoticed. The interest of the team is his priority, and his team depends on him a lot. In case of New Zealand, that man is Ross Taylor. The Kiwi, who has entered the ninth year of his One-Day International (ODI) career, has etched himself as a very crucial member of the team in both formats — ODIs and Tests. In his absence New Zealand’s top order will have to play sensibly, for there will be no one in the middle-order to resurrect their innings if the going gets tough. The upcoming tour of South Africa that would feature two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and three ODIs will begin on Friday. Sakshi Gupta explains why Black Caps will miss Taylor when they enter the field without the Samoan. READ: George Worker becomes fourth New Zealand batsman to score fifty on T20I debut
Ross Taylor scored his 15th ODI century in the first of their three-match series against Zimbabwe to inch closer to Nathan Astle’s record of 16. Taylor was not required to bat in their series-levelling 10-wicket win. Following this, he suffered an injury while training, and will be undergoing a minor surgery for the same. So, the record has to wait!
The number of records made by Taylor speak for his potential: he was the sixth batsman (the first from New Zealand) to score ODI hundreds in three consecutive innings. Taylor achieved this feat in the 2014 series against Pakistan in UAE, and had not played since he had scored 112 not out and 102 in his last two outings against India earlier that year. READ: Adam Milne and Mitchell McClenaghan claim 2 wickets each as New Zealand thrash Zimbabwe by 80 runs
Indeed, Pakistan brings the best out of Taylor. The 131 not out against the men in green in the ICC 2011 Cricket Word Cup, arguably best ODI innings till now, is still fresh in memories of his fans. He averages a whopping 67 against them with a strike rate of 86 and three hundreds from 17 innings.
That current New Zealand’s ODI team has seen just two of their batsmen consistently getting runs — Kane Williamson and Taylor. Williamson, comprehended as his country’s future captain and one of the finest young batsmen contemporary, should ideally take up the role of playing out the full 50 overs, or at least till the 45th over. He is one for big scores.
Taylor’s 4 hundreds in 2015 is next to only Kumar Sangakkara’s 5 (Tillakaratne Dilshan also has 4). If we go back another year, Taylor’s 7 puts him after Sangakkara (9) and Hashim Amla (8). No other New Zealand batsman has more than 4 during this period. READ: Kagiso Rabada desperate to secure South Africa Test spot
Brendon McCullum, considered by many as New Zealand’s best contemporary ODI batsman, has defined a role for himself — that of a ruthless bludgeoner at the top. Though McCullum continues to be a threat, bowlers have been decoding his weaknesses of late, which is not very great news for New Zealand.
After providing flying starts to his side in almost every match in the World Cup 2015, McCullum waited just three deliveries to get back to the pavilion in the final. The onus fell on Grant Elliott, and — surprise, surprise — Taylor.
Against the likes of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir, New Zealand will surely miss the experience, skill and support that come along to the team with Taylor.
(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)