'Age Is Just A Number' - Ross Taylor In No Hurry Of Retiring, Wants To Continue As Long As He's Contributing To The Team
Published - 23 May 2021, 04:03 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:46 AM
Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer, is in no rush of mapping his retirement plans. However, the 37-year-old says he’d had thoughts of hanging his boots earlier a couple of years ago.
The right-hander is currently in England where New Zealand will take on the hosts in a 2-Test series starting June 2, before facing India in the final of the ICC World Test Championship in Southampton from June 18.
Ross Taylor reckons that a player’s age is “just a number” and he would continue playing as long as he is enjoying, and helping the team’s cause.
He says while currently, he doesn’t have any thoughts for the future, he pondered retirement approaching the 2019 World Cup; however, his performances in the tournament – he was New Zealand’s second-leading run-scorer after skipper Kane Williamson – changed his mind.
“Age is just a number and as long as you’re still enjoying it and feel you can contribute to the team on and off the field then hopefully I can continue. I did have 35 in my mind (because of the 2019 World Cup) but I went there and felt I could still contribute and therefore I didn’t think just because it was a World Cup it was time to retire, but no I don’t have a number in mind,” Ross Taylor said, as quoted by rnz.co.nz.
As long as you still enjoy it and not just playing for the sake of it: Ross Taylor
The Wellington-born batter asserts that the way the training of the players has been enhanced – the technology put into the analysis of the player’s fitness, gym-work, etc – aids in lengthening the career. Ross Taylor also asserts that the presence of a senior player helps in guiding the youngsters in the side as well.
“With the way players train, the technology, the gym, the physio, all that culminates in a longer career. As long as you still enjoy it and not just playing for the sake of it I think it’s better for the game and better for the youngsters who can learn off somebody,” the veteran cricketer added.
