Veteran New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor is set to appear in his 100th Test match in the series opener against India at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
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This particular Test will also see Taylor becoming the first cricketer to play 100 games across formats. The 35-year-old has represented the Black Caps in 99 Tests, 231 ODIs and 100 T20Is thus far.
Two days ahead of the match, Taylor addressed the media and shared some life and cricketing lessons.
“Yeah, I think so. That shapes you as a person and as a player,” he replied when asked if negative experiences have helped him to become a better cricketer.
“Sometimes it’s not necessarily the runs you get and the good times. It’s how you deal with failures along the way that shape you as a person, as the way you go about your training, as a teammate. Sometimes it’s the negative things that make you harder and stronger and more resilient, and that’s what you need to be a Test player,” Taylor added.
Ross Taylor would have played his 100th Test in Sydney against Australia last month had the Christchurch Test against Bangladesh not been cancelled due to terror attack at a mosque in March 2019.
The Kiwi batsman is happy that he will get to play this milestone game in front of friends and family.
“David White (NZC CEO) comes in and gives us a talk about what games are coming up and you start doing the math and he actually says Ross, it’s going to be your 100th Test in Sydney. But obviously what happened in Christchurch last year with the shootings at the mosque had moved things back a game.
“But then, things happen for a reason, I believe, and it’s nice for it to happen back home. I don’t know how many people would have travelled to Sydney for it. So it’s nice for it to be here.”
He received best wishes from former teammates Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum as well.
“I just got a call from Brendon before we got here saying all the best. He said do better than what I did, I don’t know what he got in his 100th game. I asked if there was any tip on how to deal with tickets and things like that,” he laughed.
“I got a message from Vettori as well last night. Obviously, it is a special club to join and it’s nice to hear from fellow players who have been there and done that.”So does he have enough tickets at his disposal?”I don’t know if I have enough tickets for them all, there are all coming out of the woodwork! All the old coaches and things like that. It’s a nice time to celebrate them and what they have done for my career. I think my celebrating comes after the Test match. This is just to thank them for all the sacrifices they have made,” Taylor said.
Since he is at the wrong end of thirties, questions related to retirement often arise. But Taylor believes he still has something left in his tank.
“I always said to myself, 2019 World Cup wasn’t a bad place to start thinking about that ‘R’ word. But I still I am good enough and have a lot more to offer this team both on and off the field.
”I am still as hungry as ever to score runs. After my first series, I wouldn’t have been putting much money on myself to be playing 100 Tests, that’s for sure. I am happy with what has happened,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
