New Zealand's Ross Taylor on Friday (May 1) won the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal once again and vowed to continue representing the Black Caps till the 2023 ODI World Cup to be played in India.
The veteran batsman was presented with the award by Hadlee himself at the behest of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in a virtual ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The year 2019 saw Taylor guide the Kiwis to the World Cup final in the UK, surpass Stephen Fleming as New Zealand's highest Test run-getter and also become the first player in the history of international cricket to have played 100 games each across all formats.
Hadlee, inarguably New Zealand's greatest, heaped rich praise on Taylor, saying: "I’ve followed your career since 2006 as I was part of the selection panel when you played your first ODI and then Test match."
"I’ve watched your progress over the past 14 years and I just want to congratulate you on all your performances and records to date."
"You’ve been a wonderful performer, you’ve got a fantastic record and on behalf of New Zealand Cricket I’d just like to say thanks very much for your contribution, not only to New Zealand cricket – but to world cricket," he added in a media release.
Taylor, having received the supreme medal for the third time in its ten-year history, felt honored to have it presented by the great man himself.
"Thanks, Paddles, it’s been an amazing year," he said. "It’s been full of ups and downs. A World Cup Final - losing that Final. The Boxing Day Test, which was such a proud moment to be part of and to have so many Kiwis there supporting us was something I’ll never forget."
"I was happy with the consistency this season and any time you can contribute to the team performance and help get the team across the line is special."
Taylor wishes to continue batting in the middle-order for the Black Caps until the next World Cup in India.
"The biggest thing, I think, is the hunger and the mental motivation to keep getting better, if that’s still there then age is just a number," he told reporters.
"I’ll see if I can get to (age) 38 or 39, which will be the next World Cup, and we’ll see from there," added the 36-year-old.
(Inputs from AFP)
