×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Ross Taylor sacked as NZ captain

Sport
Auckland — Ousted New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor yesterday said he was distressed at being axed in favour of Brendon McCullum and needed a break from the game after a “very challenging”time.

Auckland — Ousted New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor yesterday said he was distressed at being axed in favour of Brendon McCullum and needed a break from the game after a “very challenging”time. Report by AFP

After a week of intense speculation about Taylor’s future, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the 28-year-old batsman had been dumped as skipper and would sit out the upcoming tour of South Africa.

“It was felt that the workload for a young captain was a lot,” NZC chief executive David White told reporters, adding that Taylor rejected an offer to remain Test captain while handing limited overs duties to McCullum.

Despite presiding over a string of poor results, Taylor remains New Zealand’s best batsman, averaging 43.45, and his absence from the Test squad for South Africa further weakens a side missing injured spinner Daniel Vettori. Taylor said coach Mike Hesson told him he was no longer wanted as captain before last month’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka, where the Black Caps fought back for a creditable 1-1 draw after losing heavily in the first Test.

“Obviously, the news and the timing was distressing,” he said in a statement.

“It has been a very challenging and pressured time and I don’t believe I can give 100 percent to the game at this time.”

Taylor, who White said could play in a home series against England in February, did not rule out an international comeback under McCullum.

“I am determined to contribute to the Black Caps team in the future and help whoever is in charge to win,” he said.

Opener McCullum, (31), is widely seen as offering more attacking tactical nous than the conservative Taylor.

Hesson defended his treatment of Taylor over the captaincy, saying “there’s no good time to deliver news like that” but conceded “it’s been a very unfortunate week . . . and not the result anyone wanted”.

The handling of the issue has sparked fury in New Zealand cricketing circles, with batsman Jesse Ryder tweeting that it “angers me watching Ross Taylor getting dumped on”.

New Zealand lost seven of 13 Tests under Taylor’s captaincy, winning four and drawing two. The Black Caps have lost one-day series to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka, with their sole series win against Zimbabwe.