Ross Taylor included in NZ Eleven team to take on Dutch

Retiring Black Caps great Ross Taylor will feature for the New Zealand XI against Netherlands in Napier next week as he looks to get some game-time ahead of his final One Day International series later this month.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Having been ruled out of today’s Plunket Shield match for the Central Stags as a Covid-19 ‘household contact’, Taylor will turn out against the touring Dutch at McLean Park in the second one-day warm-up match on March 19 as well as the one off T20 on the evening of the 21st.

“I’m looking forward to getting down to Napier and playing on one of my favourite grounds in McLean Park,” Taylor said.

“It’s a great opportunity to get some time in the middle after missing the latest round of the Plunket Shield and it will also be useful to have a look at the touring team ahead of the ODI series.

“I’m looking forward to sharing the dressing room with some new and younger faces who I hope I can help by passing on some knowledge.

“The Netherlands are an ever improving side and they’ll be relishing the chance to take on a Test playing nation.

“They have a few familiar players from the New Zealand domestic scene who I’m sure will be valuable to them in terms of understanding the conditions.

“We know they’ll play with plenty of pride and expect them to be a good challenge.”

Taylor’s inclusion headlines a strong mix of international hopefuls and rising stars in the NZ XI squad which will be captained by in-form Wellington Firebirds skipper Michael Bracewell.

New Zealand XI

Michael Bracewell (c) (Wellington)

Matt Bacon (Otago)

Matt Boyle (Canterbury)

Josh Clarkson (CD)

Dane Cleaver (wk) (CD)

James Hartshorn (Wellington)

Mitch Hay (Canterbury)

Jayden Lennox (CD)

Angus McKenzie (Otago)

Jock McKenzie (Auckland)

Tim Pringle (ND)

Ben Sears (Wellington)

Jesse Tashkoff (Wellington) – game 1

Ross Taylor (CD) – games 2 and 3

The New Zealand XI face Netherlands behind closed doors in two one-day matches at Napier’s McLean Park on March 17 and 19 followed by a one-off T20 on March 21.

The Black Caps then take on the Netherlands in a T20I on March 25 at McLean Park followed by three ODIs, at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval on March 29 and Hamilton’s Seddon Park on April 2 and 4.