New Zealand batter Ross Taylor would be playing his last Test for the Blackcaps as they turn up for the second and last game of the two-match series against Bangladesh where they are surprisingly 0-1 down playing at home.
While the Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch will hold importance in the sense that the Kiwis must win to draw the series, it becomes even more important as it is going to be the last match for one of the greats of New Zealand cricket, Ross Taylor.
Talking about finishing on a great note, Taylor said, “They've [Family and Friends] been a big part of my career today.” “We've got a lot of the young kids that are in the side and I've been fortunate now that my kids are a bit older, that they've been able to see me play, watch Dad go through the ups and downs,” he added before explaining how cricket has played a massive part in all of this.
“They've experienced a lot of things that I'm sure if it wasn't for cricket they wouldn't have been able to see. So yeah, it's cool to have them here and hopefully we can turn up and play cool,” said the 37-year-old.
Taylor, who has scored more than 7500 Test runs further said that though most of his children are aware of the game, his young daughter is still to come to terms with Test cricket. "My daughter still hasn't grasped the concept of five-day cricket yet. When I got out the other day she said, 'Come on, Dad, let's go home.’," he said.
Asked about whether he would be able to surpass Brendon McCullum in terms of finishing on a high in Test cricket as he had scored the fastest Test hundred for a Kiwi batter while playing at Hagley Oval in his last Test, Taylor was mesmerised but denied wanting anything other than win to sign off with.
"Aw, jeepers - he's set the bar very high,” exclaimed the Wellington born. “Jeepers! As I said, it'd just be good to have a win, I think. Get our first win of the summer under our belt. But in terms of being Bazesque, yeah, I don't think there's going to be many people who are going to be able to do what he did in his last match,” he added further.
Asked on whether he would miss the grind of Test cricket or not, Taylor said, "Oh, 100%. But there's aspects that I won't miss as well. But, you know, all good things have to come to an end. I'm just looking forward to this Test match, then hopefully a few more one-dayers, and then on to the next chapter.”
Although the Hagley Oval Test is going to be the last in the whites for Ross, he would play his last for New Zealand in his favourite format, the ODIs, when the Kiwis go to Australia for a limited tour in February-March this year and then play against the Netherlands at home.