Dramatic World Cup loss at Lord’s kept Taylor hanging on

Had New Zealand won the World Cup at Lord’s two years ago the chances are veteran Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor wouldn’t be playing in the test championship final this week.

The Black Caps dramatically lost the 2019 one day final to England on a boundary count back after the scores were tied after a super over.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ahead of the inaugural test championship final which starts at Southampton on Friday night has Taylor, 37, has revealed New Zealand come out on the right side of that dramatic finale, there is a very good chance he would have called it a day.

“If we had won that game, I might have retired after that, so I’m glad that I didn’t and that I’m here (in England) today,” he said.

“It was disappointing to have lost that match at Lord’s a couple of years ago. When you lose and you’re at the age that I was, you think that might be the last time I ever get to play a World Cup final, so it’s nice for me to be here.

“We’ve only been number one for a few weeks, they have been number one for five or six years so they are going to be a really hard opposition to play against, but we’re looking forward to that.”

Taylor goes into the test having found some much need form.

He made 80 in the first innings of the Black Caps second test win against England at Edgbaston – but has gone 19 innings without scoring a test century

The match also offers India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara a rare chance to play in a final.

“Personally, it means a lot to me. Playing one format, the Test format, this is the first time we are playing the World Test Championship Finals. As a team we have worked over a period of time, you play so many series at home and away from home. To be at the top requires a lot of hard work.

“It’s like playing a World Cup final in any format. This is the first time in the Test format, but playing an ODI World Cup final or even a T20 World Cup final, it’s very similar to that. Personally, I’m looking forward to it, and as a team we are looking forward to it.

“It will be challenging but we have been through a lot of preparation recently. The time we have had here, in the last nine or 10 days, we have tried to use it to the fullest. As a team, we are very well-prepared. We have the experience, most of the guys have played in England in the past, so I think we are up for the challenge, so we are very confident.”

-RNZ