The Kiwis' state of ‘free-fall’ in cricket and Taylor’s resilience - Part 1 - Opinion
The fact that New Zealand has plummeted to ground zero in all forms of cricket in recent times is damning to say the least. Their passionate supporters have been disappointed time and time again; as yet another Kiwi loss comes on the cards. This was not
the case though in years before their state of ‘free-fall’, as this team was the only side which could give http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 a game. They were also ranked as one of the best sides in ODI cricket in the mid 2000s and even before that. Sadly, the scar of being defeated
by a strong Bangladeshi team in 2010 has been grave, and has triggered a horrendous trend of consistent losses for the Black Caps. Their only real feat that they could write home about was when they secured a place in the 2011 Cricket World Cup semi-final,
against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 choking, or Pakistan having an off day. Despite all the turmoil, criticism and castigation, one man in this beleaguered line up
has stood out and performed consistently enough to put the country on the map.
That man is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LRPL-Taylor-c1849. He is an elegant stroke maker with a penchant for scoring, and scoring big for his team. He is a remarkable case study of someone who has risen above his ranks and played brilliantly for his team when his side needed it the most.
Taylor remains unflustered, whether he is a lone batsman, a captain or even someone who is on the fringes. When he is on the field however, he is bound to perform consistently in times when all those around him capitulate under pressure.
His rise as a senior batsman however, is perhaps a product of circumstances which are largely exogenous in nature. The retirement of star players such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-Paul-Fleming-c91190, meant that it became incumbent upon Taylor to assume the role of being the senior statesman
in the team. It hasn’t been easy for him, as he has usually had to respond by playing some breathtaking innings out of the blue. Many of his contributions have secured victories for this New Zealand team, which is in danger of being overrun by even minnows
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045.
Not many would forget his 131 not out on his birthday at Pallekele in a World Cup group fixture against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, after they were consistently labeled as under dogs
in the lead up to the tournament. In that game, New Zealand was teetering to what looked like a below par total, yet http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915’s manhandling of the Pakistani pacemen turned it around for them. Taylor launched an assault that the Pakistani bowlers, especially
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Akhtar-c90080, would not forget. He plundered the bowling in the death overs by smashing magnificent sixes through the leg side, and finished with a tally of 8 boundaries and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 105.64 at the end of his innings. New Zealand ended up
with a mammoth 302, and bowled out a fancied Pakistani line-up for just 192 in their innings to secure victory amid mutterings of their underdog status.
Continued in Part 2...
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