Watch: Ross Taylor produces fairytale finish to his Test career, picks a wicket of his final ball
Ross Taylor (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
With a wicket off his final delivery in the longest format of the game, Ross Taylor ensured that his Test career had a poetic end. The legendary batter couldn’t have asked for a more fitting end to his career in whites.
New Zealand on Tuesday dismissed Bangladesh for 278 and thus, won the second Test by an innings and 117 runs. Despite a spirited hundred by Liton Das, the visitors couldn’t stop the hosts from winning the final Test of the series. However, the highlight was Taylor picking the opposition’s number 11 batter Ebadot Hossain’s wicket in the third ball of the 79th over.
With the Haque-led side nine wickets down, the local crowd encouraged the Kiwi skipper Tom Latham to give the ball to the 37-year-old. While bowling his first spell since 2013, Taylor tossed up a flighted delivery and forced a top-edge. The ball went in the direction of the Black Caps skipper, who steadied himself and held onto the catch to dismiss Hossain for four.
What a way to finish the Test! @RossLTaylor takes his THIRD Test wicket to finish the Test inside 3 days at Hagley Oval. We finish the series 1-1 with @BCBtigers. #NZvBAN pic.twitter.com/2GaL0Ayapr
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 11, 2022
After the completion of the match, the right-handed batter was cheekily asked if he was “under-bowled” during his Test career, to which he humbly denied. He cited the fact that bowling in these conditions more often than not, gets you wickets. He also spoke about this Test being an emotional one as it was his final red-ball game.
“I suppose if you bowl in those situations more often, you get the wicket. It’s a great way to finish…..I wanted to finish with a win and the guys definitely 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. I have played a lot here (in Christchurch), spent a lot of time and it’s a great way to finish,” said Ross Taylor. Thus, the batting legend’s emotional farewell turned out to do justice to his illustrious Test career.
