The batter from New Zealand claims he has no plans to retire and that he “still wants(s) to study and get better.”
New Zealand batter Ross Taylor has praised his team’s World Test Championship success, claiming it will “make up” for the team’s agony in the 2019 Worl
d Cup final at Lord’s, where they were eliminated without actually losing.
“I believe there were a few ups and downs at the beginning of my career,” Taylor remarked during a virtual media session on Wednesday. “I guess over the last few years, the team has evolved into a terrific consistent side, and after the heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup, this is obviously the pinnacle and I think it makes up for that,” he says.
“Taylor, New Zealand’s all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, secured the victory on the sixth day with a shovelled four to the midwicket boundary off his legs. Taylor, on the other hand, refused to perceive it as “his moment,” preferring to return to the finish line with his captain Kane Williamson.
Walking out with him [Williamson] after the winning runs were hit, and the discussions that followed, it’s something I’ll never forget “he stated “When I stepped out to bat, it was still up in the air whether I’d be able to get through that difficult moment, and Kane has been a tremendous captain and ambassador for the game and our country. And for him to be out there and on the last ball before, he gave me a look that said, ‘hurry up and finish it’ so he wouldn’t have to. So it was good to hit the boundary and celebrate what had been a difficult match requiring a lot of hard effort over the previous two years.”
With the New Zealand fans cheering in the background, Taylor embraced Williamson, slapped him on the head, and traded glove punches just after hitting the winning runs. The image of the two walking off the ground together has become legendary, with some even urging that it be immortalised as a statue at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
Taylor added, “It was just good to be there.” “However, I believe I’ve seen the photo several times.” Many people have sent it to me, and I believe the picture of Kane and me speaks louder than words. I believe the shot speaks for itself. We were obviously pleased with what we had accomplished, but there was also a sense of relief that we had finally been able to get one across the line.
“After the heartbreak of 2019, it was good to finally be out there with Kane and go celebrate it with a lot of players – BJ [BJ Watling], Boulty [Trent Boult], Tim [Southee], a lot of guys who have been on this club for a long time and experienced a lot of highs and lows.”
“I’ll leave it up to the public to decide on that [a statue at the Basin Reserve], but if you ask Kane, I’m sure I know what he’ll say.”
Taylor dismisses suggestions of retirement, saying, “I just want to keep playing cricket.”
Taylor revealed in a recent interview with the ICC that if the 2019 final had not gone the way it did, he might have retired after that event (or after that summer). On Wednesday, the 37-year-old was asked if he was considering retiring now that he had experienced the high of winning the inaugural WTC, but he dismissed the suggestion, saying he still had the desire to play and perform for New Zealand. Taylor’s T20I future, on the other hand, remains questionable after he was dropped from the side during New Zealand’s last home summer and was required to establish his form and fitness in the Central Stags’ Super Smash. Glenn Phillips, on the other hand, smoothly fit into the middle order and went on to win his maiden central contract after appearing in each of New Zealand’s 14 T20Is during the 2019-20 home season.
“As I already stated, I haven’t given much thought to anything.” “Over the last few months, my major emphasis has been to do everything I can to make the [T20] World Cup team,” he stated. “My calf and hammy had been bothering me leading up to then.” No, I believe the Twenty20 side is fairly settled, and there is plenty of cricket to be played before and after that. No, I don’t think the team will change much in the future.”
