Still Feel Like I've Got Something To Give To This Game - Ross Taylor In No Hurry For International Retirement
Published - 30 Jun 2021, 05:42 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 04:35 PM
With 18054 international runs, in a career spanning over 15 years, Ross Taylor is New Zealand‘s all-time leading run-scorer. It was only fitting that he hit the winning runs in the ICC World Test Championship Final – New Zealand’s first major ICC title win since the Knockout Cup in 2000 – against India at The Ageas Bowl. He had Kane Williamson, his skipper and New Zealand’s third-highest run-scorer, at the non-striker’s end.
With BJ Watling, aged 35, announcing his pre-planned retirement following the WTC Final, thoughts emerged that the 37-year-old Ross Taylor might hang his boots too. However, going into the final, the right-hander wasn’t completely sure if it could well be his last game, or whether he would continue on his career.
“I wanted to go in there and do what I can and just do what was in front of me. Whereas if it was my last game and I had put that extra pressure on me, it would have made it even harder mentally to get through that,” Ross Taylor told 1 News.
“I’m glad with the decisions I made and whatever happens for a reason – whatever happens over the coming months will be what it is.”
A lot of past players tell me you’re a long time retired: Ross Taylor
However, Ross Taylor is sure about one thing: he has more gas left in the tank. The Wellington-born reveals that at times former Kiwi cricketers, who had retired at age of 34 and a bit later, have derided him of prolonging his career beyond 35.
Ross Taylor doesn’t pay much heed to them and continues to work on his form and fitness. With the experience and importance of the right-hander, he is likely to play, ODI cricket at least for a couple of more years.
“A lot of past players tell me you’re a long time retired, and a lot of them told me that they felt like they retired too early. I still love playing the game of cricket and still feel like I’ve got something to give to this game.
“Both on and off the field. Regardless of when I do pull up stumps, then I still feel like I can play domestic cricket. I still love playing for my country and I love playing for Central Districts as well.
“New Zealanders, for whatever reason, probably retire at 34, 35. Once I’ve gotten to 37 I can understand why they do. You get asked the question a lot.
“Your age comes into question a lot more when you’re doing things exactly the same as what you were doing two years ago, but you’re doing them wrong because of your age – which is a bit hard to swallow,” he further stated.
