Ross Taylor Age, Biography, career, stats, networth, Ranking & News

Ross Taylor

Inzamam-ul-Haq | AFP
Inzamam-ul-Haq | AFP
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Inzamam-ul-Haq Questions Why ICC Is Silent Despite Several New Zealand Players Pulling Out Of Pakistan Series For IPL 2021

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Inzamam-ul-Haq lashed out at ICC and questioned its silence on the matter after being irked with New Zealand’s players’ decision to pull out of the Pakistan series for IPL 2021.

Ahead of the all-important T20 World Cup 2021, the New Zealand cricket team will square off against Bangladesh and Pakistan in a white-ball series between September 1 and October 3. While Pakistan will have their first-choice players for the series, New Zealand will be missing out on the services of 7 players who are in the WC squad as they will participate in IPL 2021 once it resumes which was criticized by Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Inzamam-ul-Haq JEWEL SAMAD / AFP
Inzamam-ul-Haq JEWEL SAMAD / AFP

Inzamam-ul-Haq: Pakistan Team Not Getting Proper Practice As They Aren’t Getting To Play Against Main Squads

New Zealand Cricket has released its players for the 2nd half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 and 7 players, including skipper Kane Williamson, will be in UAE to take part in the T20 league.

Upset with NZ players pulling out of the Pakistan series to play IPL, former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has lashed out at ICC and questioned its silence on the matter. As per Inzamam-ul-Haq, the players are giving more importance to private leagues instead of international cricket.

“Wherever the Pakistan team is going, they are not getting a chance to play against the main players. When we went to South Africa in April, they sent their players for the IPL. With the upcoming NZ series in Pakistan, eight NZ players have opted out of the tour to play IPL. Even in the recent England tour, the whole England team got changed due to COVID-19 in the camp,” Inzamam-ul-Haq said on his Youtube channel.

“I feel that the Pakistan team is not getting proper practice because they are not getting to play against the main players. What is the ICC doing? What message are they trying to give? Players are giving importance to private leagues and not international cricket. It’s like degrading international cricket. If you see the whole sequence, it’s happening only against Pakistan,” Inzamam-ul-Haq added.

New Zealand batsman Tom Latham
New Zealand batsman Tom Latham (Photo: AFP)

Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, and Tim Seifert are other players who have been released by NZC.  Tom Latham will be leading NZ in both series.  Interestingly, he isn’t part of the T20 World Cup squad.

The 2nd phase of IPL 2021 will be played from September 19 to October 15 in the UAE. The T20 World Cup 2021 kicks off on October 17.  Following the ICC event, the NZ players will travel to India for T20I and Test series against the hosts.

Tom Latham To Lead New Zealand On Limited Overs Tours Of Pakistan And Bangladesh

Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in the absence of Kane Williamson on their white-ball tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh starting September.  The opener will stand in as leader on both tours across white-ball formats.  New Zealand takes on Bangladesh in five T20Is in September, followed by three ODIs and five T20Is in Pakistan.

New Zealand has also named 15 member squad for the forthcoming T20 World Cup under the leadership of Kane Williamson. Ross Taylor, the veteran Kiwi batsman, and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme are the major exclusions from the squad. Ross Taylor. (Source: Twitter)

Ross Taylor. (Source: Twitter)

Todd Astle was picked along with two other spinners in the squad – legspinner Ish Sodhi and left-arm spinning allrounder Mitchell Santner. Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee will lead Kiwi’s pace attack. The same squad will also tour India later this year for three T20Is.

Adam Milne has been selected as the 16th man in the T20 World Cup squad as an injury cover.  New Zealand will make their first trip to Pakistan in 18 years this September to play three ODIs and five T20Is in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup that kickstarts on October 17.
New Zealand last toured Pakistan in November 2003 when they played five ODIs. A year before, their last Test appearance in Pakistan was at the Gaddafi Stadium in May 2002, which is remembered for Inzamam-ul-Haq’s 329 and Shoaib Akhtar’s six for 11 in the first innings that set the platform for an innings and 324-run victory.

New Zealand T20 World Cup squad: Kane Williamson (c), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne (injury cover).

Squad for Bangladesh T20Is and Pakistan ODIs: Tom Latham (capt, wk), Finn Allen, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry (ODI only), Scott Kuggeleijn, Cole McConchie, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (T20 only), Blair Tickner, Will Young.
Squad for Pakistan T20Is: Tom Latham (capt, wk), Finn Allen, Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

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I Think India Played With Fewer Batsmen In WTC Final: Irfan Pathan

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Irfan Pathan, former India all-rounder has said Virat Kohli’s team needed to play one more batsman in their line-up for the recently-concluded World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand.

Last week, Kane Williamson-led New Zealand defeated India in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) by 8 wickets to grab the Test mace at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. The Kiwis are also currently placed in the number one spot in Tests in the world.

New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and teammates celebrate with the WTC trophy. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

Irfan Pathan: India’s Batting In The 2nd Innings Was Disappointing

Irfan Pathan said Indian batsmen attempting pull shots to the bouncers bowled at them by the New Zealand seamers instead of using their body was a sign of their ‘lack of commitment.’

India lost eight wickets in a session and a half in the Reserve Day of the WTC final and was bowled out for 170 in their second innings, which took the draw almost out of the equation as New Zealand needed only 139 runs in the remaining 53 overs to win the match.

“I think India played with fewer batsmen — which I highlighted before the ICC World Test Championship final. I feel there was a need for one more batsman in the team. We do not have quality fast-bowling all-arounder — which New Zealand possesses — and it is hard to find one.

“Now, If we talk from a proper cricketing point of view — what went wrong for India? I think the first innings went great, but Team India’s batting in the second inning was disappointing,” said Irfan Pathan on Star Sports’ show ‘Follow The Blues’.

Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Rishabh Pant. (Photo Source: BCCI)

“The ball wasn’t swinging as much in the second innings, and Indian batsmen could have batted more responsibly. I am aware of Rishabh Pant’s capabilities as a batsman and how he can hit balls very well, but that does not mean you hit a fast bowler outside — a sense of responsibility was required.”

“Indian batters were using a lot of pull shots on bouncers; instead of using their body and this showed a lack of commitment. These questions are tough, but I hope Indian batsmen have the strength to give their answers in the future.

“And now we are back on the same topic — Kiwi batsmen were able to make 140 runs with the loss of two wickets, but our Indian team lost eight wickets building the same score,” he added.

Rishabh Pant was India’s highest scorer with 41 in the second innings but his approach of continuously charging the seamers left Irfan Pathan unimpressed. New Zealand chased down the target with eight wickets in the bank as two of their most experienced players captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor stitched an unbroken 96-run stand for the third wicket.

Irfan Pathan: India Didn’t Get Enough Match Practice As Bowlers Were Tired And Should’ve Opted For More Bouncers

While the batters struggled against a potent New Zealand pace attack, the Indian bowlers couldn’t threaten the opposition. Mohammed Shami was the only effective bowler who returned with 4 wickets under his belt while Ishant Sharma managed to pick three wickets in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah returned wickless and may face the axe in the upcoming 5 match Test series against hosts England.

Talking about how the Indian bowling attack lacked match practice heading into the WTC final, Irfan Pathan said: “By the time we (Team India) started fielding for the second session, our bowlers were already tired. This happened because India didn’t get enough match practice. When a team gets less match practice, they don’t have the kind of match fitness required for a particular game.”

Irfan Pathan claimed a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006(ICC/Twitter)
Irfan Pathan claimed a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006(ICC/Twitter)

“I feel this will improve eventually. I think Indian bowlers should’ve opted for more bouncers — the way Neil Wagner did. And improvement is required in length because we witnessed a lot of cut shots and back-foot punches from Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.”

A complete effort on the Reserve Day saw New Zealand edging India in a final which had its ebbs and flows in the first innings. The Kiwis made full use of the slender 32-run first-innings lead and the Kane Williamson-led side bundled out India cheaply for 170 in the second innings to get a target of just 139 which was achieved quite comfortably in the end.

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

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Shane Jurgensen
Shane Jurgensen
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Shane Jurgensen Considers Winning The WTC Final Against India Was His Greatest Coaching Achievement

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Shane Jurgensen, a New Zealand bowling coach considers winning the inaugural World Test Championship title as his greatest coaching achievement while terming the pace quartet of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, and Kyle Jamieson as the best in the world.

New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets at Southampton last week to claim the WTC crown, their second ICC trophy after Champions Trophy 2000.

Shane Jurgensen Image Source : GETTY IMAGES
Shane Jurgensen Image Source: GETTY IMAGES

Shane Jurgensen: Personally, Winning The WTC Final Against India Was My Greatest Coaching Acheivement

Shane Jurgensen feels New Zealand has the best bowling assault in international cricket. The Blackcaps bowling coach trusts the World Test Championship final execution offered convincing evidence about the New Zealand bowling attack.

“I think for me this is about, for all of New Zealand really, from people that have always gone to (put) the extra effort from New Zealand Cricket’s staff, board, sponsors, the caterers at the ground we play at, the curators at all the grounds, the physios, the domestic coaches and the CEOs – everyone has had an input into this somewhere and a valuable contribution and it really means a lot to us now,” he said.

“I think, at times, I’ve been really emotional in my room, and also for me personally my wife because she puts up with me being away a lot. For me, personally, this is my greatest coaching achievement,” Jurgensen was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Shane Jurgensen revealed that he was still crying tears of joy and was watching the final day’s play over and over again while being in isolation after returning home.

“I’ve seen a few highlights. I’ve sort of been reading a lot and watching a bit on YouTube, so looking at it from all different angles,” he said.
NZ pacer Trent Boult (File Photo | AFP)
NZ pacer Trent Boult (File Photo | AFP)

“But for me what is different this time is the reflection on me personally and also you know for me in my area – the bowling unit what they have achieved…I think the morning of the last day to be able to make the vital breakthroughs with Kyle (Jamieson) and Tim (Southee) and Trent (Boult). It was a fantastic effort to put ourselves in a position to chase a reasonably low total.”

Shane Jurgensen has held coaching roles with Bangladesh, Fiji, Scotland, and New Zealand was effusive in his praise for his pace quartet Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner.

“I think so. I’ve been thinking that (New Zealand have the best attack) for a while. So it’s just me and my role and belief in these bowlers; what they bring to us as a team and the challenges they have overseas,” he said.

The New Zealand bowlers put on a masterclass in Southampton as they helped New Zealand beat India by eight wickets in the debut WTC final. Ross Taylor hit the winning runs.

Shane Jurgensen: Winning WTC Final Isn’t A Fluke

Shane Jurgensen said that now people will sit up and take notice of the fact that this wasn’t a fluke.

“But, I think they are and we can probably strongly say that right now – this hasn’t been a fluke and it has been happening for a long time. As I said, the belief in the bowling group – how they plan, how fit they are, how strong they are and how much they believe in each other. The trust is amazing and we got four or five bowlers in the final, but all do different things. Kyle’s height and accuracy, to be able to swing it both ways at a good pace. Tim’s accuracy, new-ball execution – unbelievable. He can adapt to use the crease – over and around – to left-handers and right-handers.”
New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

“We know Trent’s ability with the new ball, but he took wickets with the old ball; he’s been doing that for a while, so it’s nothing new for me and the team. We know that Neil (Wagner) makes people uncomfortable on the back foot and the front foot with the lengths he bowls, but he’s now getting guys out like Trent. So, he’s building up a different skill set to be able to swing the ball both ways and seam it,” he added.

The New Zealand pace attack is viewed as quite possibly the most adjusted one having many varieties in Test cricket. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are two of the best swing bowlers. The option of Kyle Jamieson has added another measurement to an all-around compromising attack. Shane Jurgensen hailed the assortment the New Zealand bowlers have in red-ball cricket. Neil Wagner has added another stunt to his ordinance.

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Kyle Jamieson (File Photo) | AP
Kyle Jamieson (File Photo) | AP
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Kyle Jamieson Escaped To The Bathroom To Avoid Watching Tense WTC Final On Reserve 6th Day

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Kyle Jamieson, the New Zealand pacer admits that he was so nervous during the final moments of the World Test Championship final against India that he had to hide in the bathroom while his teammates batted.

Kyle Jamieson produced a man-of-the-match performance claiming 5 wickets in the first and 2 in the second innings to help New Zealand claim the World Test Championship over India last week, taking seven wickets at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Kyle Jamieson, AFP
Kyle Jamieson, AFP

Kyle Jamieson Escaped To The Bathroom To Avoid Watching Tense Final 6th Day When New Zealand Batted

While he was ruthless on the field, Kyle Jamieson says he had to, at times, retreat to the bathroom to escape the “nerve-racking” final day as his teammates batsmen Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor brought it home with the bat.

“It was probably the toughest period of cricket I’ve been a part of, in terms of watching,” Jamieson told Country Sports Breakfast on Gold AM.

“We were sitting inside and actually watching on TV. There was a bit of a delay but it seemed like every ball the Indian crowd was up and about and I was like ‘jeez it’s a wicket’ or something like that, but it turned out it was just a block or a single. It was pretty tough to watch. I actually tried to at times to go to the bathroom where there was no noise to just get away from it for a while because it was quite nerve-racking. But it was nice to have Kane and Ross out there, two of our greatest ever batters really to calm the nerves and finish the job the way they did.”

Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
Ross Taylor hit the final runs to secure an eight-wicket victory in one of New Zealand cricket’s most famous wins, as it wasn’t too long until celebration time.

“It was good. Nothing too crazy,” Jamieson said about the post-game celebrations. “We just spent time in the changing room and back in the team room. Obviously with the whole Covid situation, there wasn’t a whole lot of getting out and about.

“It was just nice, to be fair, to spend time together and enjoy the time together after a couple of years of hard work and a long tour as well. Just to sit back and enjoy each other’s company was quite nice.”

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

Kyle Jamieson Back On The Field Playing T20 For Surrey Within 48 Hours

Kyle Jamieson was back on the plane to London shortly after the brief celebrations for winning the final to join the English county side, Surrey. He says he was back on the field playing Twenty20 as early as within 48 hours of the WTC final.

“It was certainly tough to say goodbye to those guys. Coming off a high of what we just experienced and that moment we all enjoyed together, to go and say goodbye was quite tough. It was a quick turnaround. I think within 48 hours I was back on the park playing T20 for Surrey. It’s kind of the life we live a little bit. But it’s nice to stay on and to experience county cricket for the next few weeks.”

WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he's 'world-class' batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP
WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he’s ‘world-class’ batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP

Kyle Jamieson admitted that the time spent away from home hasn’t always been easy, but he was thankful to be able to continue playing and developing as a player in multiple forms of the game.

“Yeah I am a little bit,” he said when asked if he was missing home. “It’s been about three months and will be about just over four months by the time I get out of MIQ. It’s been a long time and I’ve certainly loved my time at home. So it’s been tough at times but I guess it’s been the environment we’re in. Look, I’m pretty fortunate to be able to still have our jobs and to be able to go around the world and work. I’m pretty grateful for that but I’m looking forward to getting home in a few weeks’ time.”

Kyle Jamieson has had a terrific start to his Test career so far. In just 8 Tests, he has picked up 46 wickets at a scary average of just 14.17 with the ball and also boasts of an impressive average of 42.66 with the bat.

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Cheteshwar Pujara Dropping Ross Taylor Proved Extremely Costly In The WTC Final, Says Brad Hogg

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Brad Hogg, former Australia spinner believes veteran Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara dropping Ross Taylor on the final reserve 6th day of the World Test Championship final was a crucial moment in the match. New Zealand still needed 55 runs at the time and both the openers were dismissed in quick succession.

Brad Hogg insisted that Ross Taylor’s dismissal could have built pressure on captain Kane Williamson who was batting at the other end and could have prompted him to make a mistake, as the target of 139 looked like an easy ask for the Kiwis.

Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images
Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images

Brad Hogg: Cheteshwar Pujara Dropping Ross Taylor Proved Extremely Costly

India did not have a great chance of winning the World Test Championship final once their batting capitulated on the final day as the team scored only 170. The fact that India dropped two catches – one of Ross Taylor and the other of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson – did not help their cause either of winning the inaugural WTC final.

Cheteshwar Pujara was the first to put down a chance, dropping an edge of Ross Taylor at first slip off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah in the 31st over, while 13 overs later, with NZ within striking distance of a win, Jasprit Bumrah swirled around but couldn’t quite get under the ball off Mohammed Shami. These two instances summed up India’s day as India lost to a spirited performance from New Zealand.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor celebrate after winning the ICC World Test Championship Final. (Reuters Photo)
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor celebrate after winning the ICC World Test Championship Final. (Reuters Photo)

“A wonderful performance from New Zealand. India had their chances at the back end of the Test match to stay in it and win it. (Cheteshwar) Pujara dropping (Ross) Taylor with 55 runs still needed at that stage proved extremely costly. It was the final day of a final,” Brad Hogg said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

Ross Taylor had walked in after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s double strike to send back openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway back in the pavilion. There was a stretch of 21 dot balls but the Kiwi duo stood undeterred in the middle to stitch an unbeaten 96-run partnership off 173 balls.

Brad Hogg: If Ross Taylor Had Gone, Kane Williamson Might Have Played A Rash Shot As Well

Ross Taylor scored 47 unbeaten runs on the final day to guide New Zealand to a thumping 8-wicket win over India in the historic WTC final Test match at Rose Bowl in Southampton.

“There was pressure. You had (Henry) Nicholls, Watling was injured. Anything could have happened with the pressure around there. Taylor went, (Kane) Williamson might have played a rash shot as well, not having that experience up at the other end,” Brad Hogg further said.

Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)

Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson remained unbeaten on 47 and 52 respectively as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to lift the inaugural WTC title. Ross Taylor scored the winning runs in the match, as he flicked a delivery of pacer Mohammed Shami towards deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Cheteshwar Pujara had a dismal outing in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand. He scored eight runs off 54 balls in the first innings and following that with 15 off 80 deliveries in the second innings. He may be dropped for the next 5 match Test series against England after a poor performance with the bat and in the field and may be replaced by the likes of KL Rahul and Hanuma Vihari.

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New Zealand Cricket Team
New Zealand Cricket Team-AFP
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New Zealand Is Likely To Tour Pakistan For Limited-Overs Series Ahead Of The T20 World Cup

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New Zealand is likely to tour Pakistan for a limited-overs series just before the T20 World Cup. The last time Blackcaps toured Pakistan was in 2003, where they were white-washed in the five-match ODI series.

From 2009 to 2019, Pakistan was unable to host international matches in Pakistan after the terror attack in 2009 on the touring Sri Lanka cricket team bus. A bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, part of a larger convoy, was fired upon by 12 gunmen near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan but the cricketers luckily escaped with minor injuries.

New Zealand have not toured Pakistan since December 2003 Getty Images
New Zealand have not toured Pakistan since December 2003 Getty Images

New Zealand Is Working Out On A Bilateral Series With Pakistan

This decade led to almost no international cricket taking place in Pakistan and Pakistan played its home series in the UAE (specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi). After the year 2019, international test cricket returned to Pakistan as the security situation improved.

The NZC and the PCB are in talks regarding the bilateral series, David White, chief executive of the board confirmed.

“Our intention is to tour Pakistan, and we’re working through that with [the PCB], and Government agencies. All going well, ensuring that we satisfy all the security arrangements which I’m confident we will do, we will be touring Pakistan,” White was quoted as saying in stuff.co.nz.

New Zealand Cricketers In IPL 2021 (Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL)
New Zealand Cricketers In IPL 2021 (Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL)

Meanwhile, a packed schedule for the Kiwis in the next 12 months awaits the cricketers. After the upcoming T20 World Cup, they will play in nine WTC matches as well. Also, some players are set to take part in the second leg of IPL 2021 too.

“There’s a lot of moving parts right now, but ideally we would allow our guys to play in the IPL,” White said.

New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 2003, the year after a suicide bombing outside their Karachi hotel killed 15 people. The IPL bound players include the likes of Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Seifert, and Finn Allen.

The Blackcaps will open their new WTC campaign (2021-23) against India. The Kiwis did not lose a single Test to Virat Kohli’s men in the first edition of the tournament. The Blackcaps will play its first home series(2 Tests) of the new WTC tournament versus Bangladesh.

The Proteas will pay a visit to New Zealand for a 2-Test series in February 2022. New Zealand will then travel to the United Kingdom again in the 2022 English summer to play a 3-Test series against England. The United Arab Emirates will likely host the 2-match Test series between Pakistan and New Zealand. New Zealand will conclude its campaign with a 2-Test home series against Sri Lanka.

Brad Hogg Praises Wonderful Performance From New Zealand To Win Inaugural WTC Beating India In The Final

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor played unbeaten knocks off 52 and 47 respectively as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to clinch the inaugural edition of the WTC.

On the other hand, after India’s loss in the WTC final, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg said, “A wonderful performance from New Zealand. India had their chances at the back end of the Test match to stay in it and win it. (Cheteshwar) Pujara dropping (Ross) Taylor with 55 runs still needed at that stage proved extremely costly. It was the final day of a final.”

New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters

“There was pressure. You had (Henry) Nicholls, Watling was injured. Anything could have happened with the pressure around there. Taylor went, (Kane) Williamson might have played a rash shot as well, not having that experience up at the other end,” he further said.

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

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Ross Taylor
Ross Taylor
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Ross Taylor Rules Out Retirement

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Ross Taylor, veteran New Zealand batsman ruled out retirement on Friday following the Black Caps’ victory over India in the inaugural World Test Championship, saying he could still contribute to the team.

The 37-year-old hit the winning runs in New Zealand’s triumph, easing the pain of defeats in the past two one-day World Cup deciders. New Zealand thereby clinched their second ICC trophy after a hiatus of 21 years as their first one came in the  Champions Trophy in 2000.

Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)

Ross Taylor Admits He’s Coming Towards The End Of His Career But Feels He’s Still Got A Few Games Left For New Zealand

Ross Taylor, who has played a key part in developing the Black Caps from also-rans into a genuine cricketing force, acknowledged his advancing years but said he had no immediate plans to quit.

“I’m just looking forward to going home and seeing the family,” he told Newstalk ZB. “Obviously I’m coming towards the end of my career but you don’t want to make decisions based on emotion and things like that. Hopefully, I’ve still got a few games left in me for New Zealand.”

Ross Taylor:- REUTERS/Ross Setford (image sourced from Otago Daily Times www.odt.co.nz)
Ross Taylor:- REUTERS/Ross Setford (image sourced from Otago Daily Times)

Ross Taylor has previously not ruled out staying on until the 2023 one-day World Cup in the hope of completing unfinished business from 2015 and 2019. He is New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in Tests and one-dayers, demonstrating his worth with vital contributions in the win over India and the Test series victory over England that preceded it.

Ross Taylor Played Down Suggestions From Sir Richard Hadlee That Current NZ Side Is The Best In History

Ross Taylor played down suggestions from legendary New Zealand allrounder Richard Hadlee that the current Black Caps’ side was the best in history.

“I wouldn’t get too carried away. We’ve had some fantastic teams (like) the team of the 1980s,” he said.

Sir Richard Hadlee. (Getty Images)
Sir Richard Hadlee. (Getty Images)

“But this current group are proud of what they’ve achieved and hopefully can achieve some special things in the future as well.”

Sir Richard Hadlee, former New Zealand all-rounder said that the Kiwis showed great professionalism against India in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC).

For New Zealand, Ross Taylor is the only player who has scored more than 18000 runs in international cricket. The Kiwi batsman has scored 18007 total runs in all three formats at an average of 43.28. He accounts for 43 centuries and 93 centuries overall.

The right-handed batsman has played 108 Tests, 233 ODIs, and 103 T20Is so far. In 188 Test innings, the 37-year-old has scored 7517 runs at an average of 45.55. He has hit 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 23: Michael Vaughan of the BBC commentary team laughs as he waits to speak on air before play on day one of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 23, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
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Michael Vaughan Doesn’t Feel Best-of-Three WTC Finals Is The Way Forward

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Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, does not feel a best-of-three-finals is the way forward for a few reasons which he explained through a tweet.

Michael Vaughan has given his opinion on Virat Kohli’s proposal that an event as big as the final of the World Test Championship should be contested in a best-of-three final. Virat Kohli made the comments in the wake of the inaugural WTC final, in which India lost by eight wickets, crowning New Zealand the winners.

Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan. Photo Credit: Twitter.

Michael Vaughan And Brad Hogg Disagrees With Virat Kohli Saying The One-Off Test Match Is The Ultimate Test For Determining A Winner

The 32-year-old Indian skipper spoke about the need for a minimum of three-Test series in the future to decide the potential winners of the WTC Final.

“I am not in absolute agreement of deciding the best Test side in the world over the course of one game. If it is a Test series, it has to be a test of character over three Tests – which team has the ability to come back in the series, or totally blow away the other team.

“It can’t just be pressure applied over two days of good cricket and then you suddenly you are not a good Test side anymore. I don’t believe in it,” Kohli said after the match.

It was an interesting point to make given how India’s previous two-Test series wins came after losing the first match of the series. Against Australia, after enduring a morale-crushing victory in Adelaide, the team bounced back in the remaining three matches to win the series 2-1 and then did the same against England at home.

Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images
Brad Hogg was a part of two World Cup-winning Australian teams; 2003 and 2007 © Getty Images

However, Michael Vaughan, the former England captain does not feel a best-of-three-finals is the way forward for a few reasons which explained through a tweet. His tweet was backed by former Australia spinner Brad Hogg, another former cricketer who is quite active on social media. Brad Hogg agreed with Michael Vaughan calling the one-off match the ultimate test of determining a winner.

Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, And Tim Southee Ensures New Zealand’s Win

Fittingly veterans Ross Taylor and skipper Kane Williamson were the two batters at the crease who buried the ghosts of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The former scored an unbeaten 47, while the latter scored 52 to help the Blackcaps win an ICC trophy after 21 long years. While the marquee clash was marred by rain, it was a good battle between the two top teams.

New Zealand crowned World Test Champions after Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee heroics vs India©ICC-Twitter
New Zealand crowned World Test Champions after Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee heroics vs India©ICC-Twitter

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee(4/48 in the 2nd innings).

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Virat Kohli, Image Source : AP IMAGE
Virat Kohli, Image Source : AP IMAGE
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Virat Kohli Revealed India Have Been Denied First-Class Fixtures Before 5-Match England Test Series

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Virat Kohli has revealed that India has been denied first-class fixtures before the forthcoming 5-match England Test series. India hadn’t played a red-ball game for nearly three months before the World Test Championship final.

Following the defeat in the World Test Championship final to New Zealand, Virat Kohli has revealed that Team India had demanded first-class matches before the upcoming five-match Test series against England but their demand hasn’t been met.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli[photo: Twitter]

Virat Kohli Wanted First Class Games Which Haven’t Beem Given For Reasons Not Known To The Captain

India was short on match practice before the WTC final and they hadn’t played a red-ball game since the home series against England in March 2021. They played an intrasquad game before the WTC Final too and lost the final by 8 wickets and will again stay away from competitive cricket for over one month as the India-England Test series kicks off on August 4.

Responding to the query whether India will play county matches before the Test series against England, Virat Kohli revealed that they asked for first-class matches but it won’t be happening.

“That doesn’t depend on us. We wanted first-class games but that’s not been given, I don’t know the reason. We have ample time for the first Test, we should be ready for it,” he said.

While India won’t play the first-class fixture before the Test series, they are scheduled to play an intra-squad fixture from July 28 to 31.

Joe Root
Joe Root. Photograph: Getty Images.

The series is still more than a month away and India has ample time to prepare for that. India hasn’t defeated England at their home since 2007 when the team featured the likes of Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. The last time India toured England (in 2018), the Virat Kohli-led side suffered a 1-4 defeat against Joe Root’s team.

Virat Kohli Who Lost To New Zealand In The WTC Final Will Play 5 Tests Against England Starting On August 4

The India-England five-match Test series will kick off on August 4, with the first Test taking place in Nottingham. Lord’s will host the 2nd Test from August 12 to 16. The third Test will be played in Leeds from August 25 to 29. London will host the 4th Test from September 2 to 6. The fifth and the final Test match will be played in Manchester, from September 10. Following the five-match Test series, the Indian players will land in UAE for the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he's 'world-class' batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP
WTC final: Pleasing to dismiss Virat Kohli, he’s ‘world-class’ batter, says Kyle Jamieson | Photo Credit: AP

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s wait to lead India to an ICC title victory extended as New Zealand chased down the target of 139 to clinch the World Test Championship title. The Indian batsmen struggled against the pace duo of Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee, who jointly scalped 12 wickets.

Kane Williamson (52*) and Ross Taylor (47*) added a match-winning 96-run partnership on the Reserve Day to propel NZ to their 2nd ICC title victory after Champions Trophy 2000. NZ had played 2 Tests against England before the WTC final.

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

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New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
New Zealand's Kane Williamson celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Photograph: John Sibley/Reuters
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New Zealand Showed Great Professionalism In Winning The World Test Championship: Sir Richard Hadlee

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Sir Richard Hadlee, former New Zealand all-rounder on Thursday said that the Kiwis showed great professionalism against India in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Sir Richard Hadlee’s comments came as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets in the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC) on Wednesday at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

Sir Richard Hadlee. (Getty Images)
Sir Richard Hadlee. (Getty Images)

Sir Richard Hadlee Praises Dominant Performance Of The Kiwis

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor played unbeaten knocks off 52 and 47 respectively as New Zealand defeated India by eight wickets to clinch the inaugural edition of the WTC.

“This is a special day in the history of NZ cricket, a day to celebrate the magnificent achievement of winning the inaugural World Test Championship. It was a thrilling Test match, with twists and turns throughout.

“And, despite the inclement weather and loss of time, it was a dominant BLACKCAPS performance over a very good Indian team,” Sir Richard Hadlee said in a statement, released by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
Ross Taylor in action against India on Day 6 of the WTC final (Twitter/BlackCaps)
“Over the past two years, the BlackCaps performances in the Test arena have been outstanding with Test match and series wins at home and abroad, and they thoroughly deserve to be crowned world champions. The whole team has shown a high degree of professionalism. Their skill sets have complemented each other to make them a complete playing unit,” he added.

A complete effort on the Reserve 6th Day saw New Zealand edging India in a final which had its ebbs and flows in the first innings where New Zealand acquired a slender lead of 32 which proved to be a decisive factor in the end.

Sir Richard Hadlee Credits Management And Support Staff For Playing Important Roles In Preparing Players To Perform At The Highest Level

The Kiwis made full use of the slender 32-run lead acquired in the first innings and the Kane Williamson-led side bundled out India cheaply in the second innings to get a target of just 139. The batsmen did not relent and in the end, the side walked away with a comfortable victory.

“The management and support staff have also played important roles in preparing players to perform at the highest level. Over the years NZC has built a significant depth of players, which makes us one of the most competitive teams in world cricket. It’s fair to say that this current group of players is the best in our history,” he added.

Tim Southee with Kyle Jamieson
Tim Southee with Kyle Jamieson

Earlier, Kiwis pacer Tim Southee scalped four wickets as India was bundled out for 170 in the second innings on the Reserve Day. The inspired show with the ball ensured that New Zealand would need to score 139 runs in a minimum of 53 overs to win the title.

The architects of New Zealand’s victory were Kane Williamson(49 and 52*), Kyle Jamieson (5/31 in the 1st innings), and Tim Southee (4/48 in the 2nd innings). New Zealand was so disciplined with the ball throughout the match that they didn’t let an Indian batsman score a fifty in the entire Test.

This is the first time in 3 years that none of the Indian batsmen managed to score a half-century in a red-ball match since the Lord’s Test against England in 2018.

New Zealand 249 (Conway 54, Williamson 49, Shami 4-76) and 140 for 2 (Williamson 52*, Taylor 47, Ashwin 2-17) beat India 217 (Rahane 49, Kohli 44, Jamieson 5-31) and 170 (Pant 41, Southee 4-48) by eight wickets

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