New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, on Wednesday (June 30), rejoiced in his team’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) victory, saying winning the ICC Test Championship mace is one of the biggest highlights of his career and probably made up for the heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup loss.
New Zealand lost the World Cup 2019 trophy without actually losing the final to England, as they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in thrilling 50-over action and an equally exhilarating super over, both of which ended in a tie and England crowned the winner on the boundary count rule at Lord’s.
However, in England on June 23, New Zealand managed to change its fortunes, as skipper Kane Williamson watched Ross hit the winning runs for the Kiwis in the WTC 2021 Final to win the Test Championship (WTC) against India in Southampton and take the Mace home.
Taylor said during a virtual media interaction on Wednesday: “I guess at the start of my career, there were a few ups and downs. We played in a few inconsistent sides, but, no, I guess over the last few years, the team has built into a fantastic consistent side and after the heartbreak of the 2019 World Cup, this is definitely the highlight and I think probably makes up for that.”
The 37-year-old hit the winning runs in the WTC Final and the batsman said he never will forget the moment in life. He further said, “Once the winning runs were hit, walking off with him [Willamson] and the discussions afterward, it's something that I'll never forget.”
He signed off by saying, “It was still touch and go when I went out there to bat; to get through that hard period and Kane's been a fantastic captain and ambassador for the game and our country. And for him to be out there and on that last ball before, he sort of gave me a stare: 'hurry up and finish it' so that he doesn't have to. So it was nice to hit the boundary and celebrate what was a tough match with a lot of hard work over the last two or so years.”
(With PTI Inputs)
