Andrew Gourdie: Ross Taylor's time to shine

Ross Taylor in conversation with Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson (Photosport)
Ross Taylor in conversation with Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson and captain Kane Williamson (Photosport)

OPINION: Whether all parties involved like it or not, this week has seen another chapter added to the story of Ross Taylor and Mike Hesson. It's a story neither will enjoy reading, and one day almost certainly will, in hardback, be available in all good bookstores. There are probably more chapters to be added, but I hope it doesn't develop into a tale of what might have been.

How both of them must wonder from time to time how different things might be if John Wright had liked the look of Brendon McCullum's powerpoint presentation instead of Taylor's in 2011. Taylor's openly admitted the job came a couple of years before he was ready. It's quite conceivable that if things had turned out differently, Taylor - as the unrivalled elder statesman of the team and with a batting record to well and truly rival the late, great Martin Crowe - might have been the one to succeed McCullum as Blackcaps captain instead of Kane Williamson. Imagine that.

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Instead, the scars of the captaincy change of 2012 run deep, and some of the bitterness that lingers revealed itself this week when Taylor lifted the lid on his T20 axing just enough to tear the scab off once again. Taylor loves playing for New Zealand, and is understandably miffed about his non-selection in the T20 squad. It is fair and reasonable he should seek answers from the coach and head selector about what he can do to get back in the side.

Maybe Taylor won't play T20 cricket for New Zealand again, who knows? But a player of his unquestionable quality will not be defined by his international T20 record, and he should certainly not be defined by what happened in Sri Lanka four years ago.

A quick glance at Taylor's statistics will tell you his strength lies in ODI and Test cricket. In fact, for all the glory and honour bestowed on Kane Williamson in recent years with a Halberg Award and Wisden's leading cricketer of the year award, he and Taylor share strikingly similar statistics in both formats in the years they've shared a dressing room.

Mike Hesson and Ross Taylor (Photosport)
Mike Hesson and Ross Taylor (Photosport)
Ross Taylor acknowledges the crowd in Hamilton after scoring a century against Australia (Photosport)
Ross Taylor acknowledges the crowd in Hamilton after scoring a century against Australia (Photosport)
Ross Taylor celebrates his century against Pakistan in November 2016 (Photosport)
Ross Taylor celebrates his century against Pakistan in November 2016 (Photosport)

Taylor experienced a couple of vintage years in 2014 and 2015, and with his recent surgery to remove a pterygium having opened his eyes to exactly what he'd been missing in recent years, there is plenty left in Taylor yet. Like the red wine he loves, he too might get better with age.

Taylor turns 33 next month, and he remains one of New Zealand's premier cricketers. Having notched 16 centuries in both ODI and Test cricket, it's quite possible that a golden summer against South Africa could see him claim the outright records for the most centuries by a New Zealander in both formats by the time the Proteas leave our shores at the end of March.

Forget a meaningless, one-off T20 international - this is Ross Taylor's time to shine. Five ODIs, three Tests. If he can focus on the future, his talent will ensure this story has a happy ending for one of New Zealand Cricket's true greats. 

Andrew Gourdie is a Newshub sports reporter.