New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor was a legend with the bat, but he ended his Test career as the hero with the ball.
Ross Taylor’s Test career has finished in “fairytale” scenes, with the New Zealand cricketer taking a wicket with his final delivery in the game’s longest format.
Last month, the 37-year-old announced the two-match series against Bangladesh would be his last for the Blacks Caps, ending a stellar 112-Test career.
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New Zealand was on the verge of a crushing victory over the Tigers at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval when skipper Tom Latham threw the ball to his veteran teammate in search of the 10th breakthrough.
Taylor had not bowled a delivery in Test cricket since October 2013 – his last wicket in New Zealand whites came more than 11 years ago, when his off-spin claimed two scalps against India in Ahmedabad.
Taylor’s first delivery was a fast yorker directed at the stumps, which Bangladesh No. 11 Ebadot Hossain clipped towards square leg. His next ball was a half-volley that was blocked delicately back down the wicket.
The Kiwi then requested to come around the wicket, a decision that immediately paid dividends.
Taylor flighted his third delivery wide of off stump, and Hossain couldn’t resist taking a wild slog. The top-edge flew towards Latham at mid-on, who claimed the catch with ease.
It was Taylor’s third Test wicket in 15 years of international cricket, and the star batter was swamped by his ecstatic teammates. New Zealand had claimed victory by an innings and 117 runs, and the series was tied at 1-1.
Incredibly, Taylor became the first player to take a wicket without conceding runs in the final Test of their career.
“The ultimate compliment, to bow out on your terms and in your time and in your style,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum told Spark Sport.
“Ross Taylor – a tremendous servant for the Black Caps, a wonderful custodian of the sport and he heads off into retirement with the whole of New Zealand behind him.”
Former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar tweeted: “Oh I love to see legends of the game finish with a smile.”
Cricket writer Melinda Farrell posted: “This is pure poetry … What an absolute legend.”
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Wu tweeted: “Not quite a century for Ross Taylor, but what a way to bow out of Test cricket.”
Taylor finishes his career as New Zealand’s highest run-scorer in Test history, with 7683 runs at 44.66. He also boasts a Test bowling average of 16.00.
“I suppose if you bowl in those situations a bit more often you get the wicket,” Taylor said after the game.
“It had gotten quite flat there towards the end, Tim (Southee) kept telling me to chuck it up so I chucked it up and Tom said that was the most pressure he‘s felt in this whole game. It was cool.
“I thought we played fantastically well. I wanted to finish with a win, and the guys gave that to me.
“It was an emotional game for me and my family and friends and my teammates as well.
“I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed representing my country – it was a great way to finish.”
Taylor will take on Australia in a three-match ODI series later this summer, with the first fixture scheduled on Sunday, January 30.
Originally published as New Zealand legend Ross Taylor finishes 15-year Test career in ‘fairytale’ scenes
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