The former New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor has shared numerous experiences he had during his cricketing career in his autobiography, 'Ross Taylor Black & White'.
In his autobiography, Taylor revealed that he always followed the superstition not to eat any dishes with ducks in them before any game after he was dismissed for a duck on his World Cup debut match against England in 2007.
Ross Taylor wrote: “The night before my first ever World Cup Game — against England in Saint Lucia in 2007 — Victoria and I went to a Chinese restaurant. I had crispy aromatic duck, one of my favorite meals. Liam Plunkett bowled me a fullish outswinger first ball; I went for the big cover drive, nicked it and Andrew Flintoff took a one-handed diving catch. Rule number one: don’t have duck the night before a game.”
He added, “Years later, we went to a dégustation dinner that included duck. I said I couldn’t have the duck because I was playing in two days’ time. Our friends persuaded me the rule only applied when I was playing the next day. So, I had some duck and, sure enough, two days later I got a golden (first-ball duck).”
He also revealed an interesting incident that involved former England captain Andrew Flintoff. Taylor mentioned: “Mind you, Freddie had an even worse day than I did: he also got a golden duck, didn’t take a wicket, and England got hammered. About 1.30 am he decided it would be a good idea to have a nightcap with Ian Botham, who was staying on a boat out in the bay.”
Taylor added, “Freddie commandeered a pedalo, put to sea, and had to be rescued by hotel staff. He woke up the next morning, still wet and with sand between his toes, to the sound of his irate coach, Duncan Fletcher, pounding on the door.”
