Legendary New Zealand All-rounder Bruce Taylor Dies Aged 77
Published - 06 Feb 2021, 05:28 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:41 PM
On Saturday, former New Zealand all-rounder Bruce Taylor has passed away aged 77 after a prolonged illness. Taylor is renowned for being the only player hitherto to score a century and take a five-wicket haul on his Test debut.
He recorded this feat at the iconic Eden Gardens against India in 1965. Taylor’s was New Zealand’s 108th Test cricketer – coming to bat in at number 8, the left-handed batsman attacked the Indian bowlers and played a 105-run innings from 158 balls.
Coming to bowl in India’s first innings, Bruce, a right-handed pacer, picked 5 wickets – he still is the only holder of this special record.
In an 8-year Test career, he would then go on to snare 111 wickets at an average of 26.60 in 30 Tests for the Kiwis along with scoring 898 runs. His career-best bowling came against the West Indies in 1972 where the pacer returned with figures of 7/74. Taylor also played a couple of ODIs against England a picked 4 wickets.
“NZC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of NZ all-rounder, Bruce Taylor, aged 77. In his 30 Tests, Bruce was a force of nature & remains the only player in the world to have scored a century & taken a five-for on Test debut. Our thoughts are with his family & close friends” the New Zealand board tweeted on Saturday announcing the demise of the all-rounder.
According to Stuff. co.NZ, Taylor “had suffered from ill-health” and “had a leg amputated in March 2016 to fight gangrene”.
Bruce Taylor picked 422 wickets in 141 first-class matches to go with 4579 runs. After his playing career, he moved to Dunedin where he served as an Otago selector and then for Wellington. He became the national selector and elected the New Zealand team for the 1992 World Cup.
NZC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of NZ all-rounder, Bruce Taylor, aged 77. In his 30 Tests, Bruce was a force of nature & remains the only player in the world to have scored a century & taken a five-for on Test debut. Our thoughts are with his family & close friends
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New Zealand qualify for the World Test Championship final
The New Zealand side led by Kane Williamson has qualified – provisionally – for the final of the World Test Championship after Australia postponed their tour of South Africa due to the ongoing situation with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.
Unless Australia and the Protea don’t play in the scheduled time – which is unlikely considering the covid and the busy calendar – the Kiwis will have a place for the final in June at the Lord’s.
England, Australia, and India remain in contention for the vacant spot in the final – the result of the ongoing Test series between Virat Kohli and Joe Root’s teams will decide which side goes through.
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