Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is ready to face any challenge by England’s experienced paceman Stuart Broad in the upcoming two-match Test series starting on Wednesday (June 2) at Lord’s.
The right-handed Taylor has over the years found it tough to survive against Broad, who dismissed the New Zealander ten times in Test cricket despite the latter is the highest Kiwi scorer with 1145 runs from 17 games at an average of 40.89 against England.
However, the 37-year-old is now up for the challenge against Broad having played alongside the English pacer in the County Championship for Nottinghamshire as well as James Anderson, saying his county experience has prepared him well for the upcoming two-match Test series in England.
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Taylor said, “I was fortunate to play with him [Broad] at Notts [in 2018] and saw the way he went about things and heard him talking to bowlers, and I asked him questions.”
He added, “I wish I had that knowledge up my sleeve before a few more of those series. He has obviously got me out a few times, as most bowlers have, but he's a very good bowler along with Jimmy Anderson and the rest of them, with the Duke [English ball] in hand they're world-class.”
Nowadays, the players are bound to bio- bubbles across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have to spend more time in quarantine than in preparations and are not allowed to step outside and it has taken a toll on players.
Taylor reacted on the same, “It's been a little bit different to previous tours, and not being able to stop at the service stations has been a shock to the system. We've been very well looked after at our hotels and the team room is getting a good hammering. New Zealand companies have sent us a lot of things to help us feel comfortable, and make it feel like home.”
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New Zealand's practice match was hit by rain and even the players couldn’t train enough in England before the Test series and did indoor practice, but Taylor said the lack of game time won't be an excuse.
He noted, “From my first tour in 2008, we must have played four or five warm-up games. But times have changed, whether it's England or series in Australia and India you don't get much preparation and lead-in with so much cricket on. And with IPL and being in a bubble and not being able to play county teams.”
Taylor concluded, “A lot of experience has to come into it for the guys who have played here before, but the guys who haven't are asking that question. There's going to be a feel period without having a proper game but that's no excuse, whatever we do first on Wednesday we'll have to do well.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
