NZ vs ENG 2018: Trevor Bayliss Believes Ross Taylor Will be Fit for the Series-Decider

New Zealand’s veteran and middle-order batsman Ross Taylor played incredible match-winning innings of 181* in the fourth ODI against England and helped the Kiwis level the five-match series 2-2.

He played the major part of his innings in pain due to a thigh injury.

Both the teams will now face each other in the fifth ODI, and the stage is set for an exciting series-decider.

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The right-handed batsman has been the man in for the black caps, as he also scored a match-winning ton in the first ODI as well.

However, he was then ruled out of the third ODI due to injury but returned to action in the fourth match to help his team past the winning line, and shackle a few records as well.

There were some concerns about the veteran batsman would not recover in time for the final match of the series in Christchurch, as he limped off the field at the end of his epic innings in the fourth match.

However, England’s coach Trevor Bayliss believes the Kiwi batsman will be fit for the fifth ODI. He jokingly also added Taylor is even more dangerous when he is carrying an injury.

“Definitely – that’s what we’re planning on. If he didn’t happen to play that would be a surprise. Let’s hope he doesn’t get an injury because he plays pretty well when he gets injured,”

He also spoke on if England had worked out any new plans to try to keep Taylor quiet,

“It’s one of the things we’re going to chat about today at practice. I don’t want to give him any head-starts… he certainly doesn’t need it.”

A win in the fifth ODI would mean a sixth straight ODI series win for Eoin Morgan and his men,

“These one-off matches, where it counts, it will be a good test for our guys – heading into that World Cup. The way we’ve been playing one-day cricket, and obviously playing at home, we should go into that tournament as one of the favourites. With that, it brings a little bit of extra pressure – having to win those one-off matches – so this is a good test.”

Here’s the news feed:

Ross Taylor’s birthday lunch spoiled as he gears to be fit ahead of the fifth ODI