New Zealand opener Tom Latham reckons he and other players will have to make a “huge adjustment” going forward as they will not have veteran cricketer Ross Taylor anymore in the Test arena.
Ross Taylor retired from Test cricket after the end of the Bangladesh series and will hang up his boots in white-ball cricket at the end of the home matches against Australia and the Netherlands this season.
With 7,683 runs he scored at an average of 44.66, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries, in 112 Tests, Ross Taylor retired as New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer in Tests after 15 years of service in the longest format.
Tom Latham, who struck a double hundred against Bangladesh in the second Test, said that Ross Taylor is leaving a massive void on the field and in the New Zealand dressing room. The left-hander stated it will be odd to not have Ross Taylor in the slips and in the dressing room after spending a long time together with the 37-year-old.
“He’s someone I’ve played the most cricket with in New Zealand. To not have him at first slip, or in the dressing room will be slightly different, and take a bit of adjusting for the first two games,” Tom Latham said on SENZ Mornings show.
“Having someone that has had such an amazing career over so many years, performing in conditions all around the world against all oppositions will be a huge adjustment.”
Tom Latham pointed out that Taylor’s retirement will now create an opportunity for someone else to try and fill those big shoes. Ross Taylor has amassed 8581 ODI runs at an average of 48, with 21 tons and 51 fifties, along with 1909 T20I runs.
“I guess now (his retirement) presents an opportunity for other guys to follow through, an exciting opportunity for someone else as well,” the left-hander added.
New Zealand, who were missing the injured Kane Williamson, lost the first Test to Bangladesh before returning to winning ways in the second Test.
The World Test Champions have suffered a slow start to their title defence as they lost the 2-Test series by 1-0 to India and now have drawn the home series against Bangladesh.
Their white-ball tour to Australia slated for later this month has been postponed. New Zealand next host South Africa for 2 Tests next month and Latham is hoping that they will have Kane Williamson back recovered from a elbow injury.
“When we last saw him (Williamson), it sounded like he was tracking reasonably nicely, so fingers crossed he is back out soon. We’ve still got a little bit more time before the next Test match against South Africa, so fingers crossed his rehab can go well and he is able to get back out there. Obviously, he is a massive member of our group, and skipper as well, so we’re hopeful we can have him back for the series,” Latham said.
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