The Netherlands followed the lead of Bangladesh in forming a stirring guard of honour for Ross Taylor ahead of the New Zealand cricket legend’s final international innings.
The Dutch set up a guard of honour for Taylor as the batting great walked to the middle for the final time in the third one-dayer between New Zealand and the Netherlands, at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
It followed spine-tingling scenes as Taylor, joined by his children, sang the New Zealand national anthem, tearing up as he did so.
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A phenomenal Test career that yielded 112 matches, 7683 runs at 44.66 and 19 centuries was paid its due respect when Bangladesh presented a guard of honour for Taylor ahead of his final five-day game with New Zealand, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch in January.
A guard of honour, a standing ovation and a blaring rendition of Timbaland’s The Way I Are greeted Taylor as he entered the field of play at 2-215 in New Zealand’s innings against the Netherlands, going through his trademark shadow batting and side skips for the final time as a Black Cap.
After picking off 14 runs from 16 deliveries in his farewell dig, the clinical right-hander finished with 8607 runs at 47.55, including 21 tons, from 236 one-day internationals.
He first played international cricket in 2006 and is retiring at the age of 38.
Taylor lost his wicket when he took a huge swing at a Logan van Beek delivery and skied it straight up.
He was then treated to another standing ovation as he made his way from the ground, gesturing to the crowd with his bat and helmet as he wore a proud smile.
“That, as they say, is that,” said New Zealand cricket great Ian Smith on the Spark Sport coverage.
“That was pretty damn special, wasn’t it?”
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