Ahead of the home bilateral series against the West Indies, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has revealed that one of his ultimate goals to represent his country in the 2023 Men's ICC Cricket World Cup in India.
Taylor, who is nearing 37, played in two consecutive World Cup finals, in 2015 and 2019, but New Zealand failed to win either final and the veteran hopes to prolong his career through to the next 50-over World Cup 2023 to be played in India.
Further, the right-hander is also on the verge to become New Zealand's most-capped international cricketer in all three formats of the game when he will turn out for the Black Caps in the upcoming three-match T20I series and two Tests against West Indies at home.
He is just five games short of overtaking former Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori, who appeared in 437 matches for his country and he would certainly achieve the milestone in the upcoming home series.
Speaking at a press interaction after arriving in Auckland for the first T20I on November 27, Taylor said COVID-19-enforced break helped him recharge and take a fresh look at his goals, as he sets eyes to go for another three years to sign off his career at the World Cup 2023.
Taylor told reporters, “2023 was going to be a stretch, I think, at the best of times, when it was (supposed to be held in) February and March. And now, the World Cup has been dragged out to October and November '23, it's another six or seven months to hang around.”
He further added, “You've got to have short-term goals and long-term goals and the one-day World Cup is definitely on the radar. I might have to trim things back leading into that - I'm not getting any younger. It doesn't mean I will make it, but, it's definitely one of my goals.”
On the Coronavirus-forced break, the veteran said: “To have a complete break away from that and not have the excuse to that you've got a game in a couple of days' time and to be present with my family was something I'll never forget. But, at the same time, you're only a cricketer for a certain period of time, and I'm not getting any younger, so I've got to make the most of every opportunity I can.”
On the impending milestone, Taylor has jokingly said “don't jinx it” as he is likely to end up setting the bar really high by the time he decides to quit for the New Zealand cricket and hopes someone would better him in the future.
He signed off by saying, “I was really happy to play one or two games for New Zealand. I've still got to get there first, but my mentor, Martin Crowe, always used to say records are meant to be broken for the next guy to come beat. Whatever number of games I end up on, hopefully, Kane [Williamson, who has 291 caps] and whoever comes through can beat that and keep setting the bar higher.”
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
