When an athlete with an exceptional record of achievement and longevity comes to the end of their career, the numbers can speak for themselves.
Ross Taylor has scored the most runs, made the most centuries and taken the most catches by a New Zealander in international cricket. He’s the first New Zealand cricketer to play 450 international matches. He’s the first player from any country to make 100 international appearances in all three formats of the game: test cricket, one-day internationals and Twenty20.
The numbers are extraordinary but they don’t tell the whole story. They don’t capture the unlikely, if not unique, aspects of Ross Taylor’s journey to becoming one of our true sporting greats:
the part-Samoan youngster, brought up in humble circumstances and a loving and supportive family environment, who quickly made his mark in a predominantly white sport;
the dashing batsman who found fame and fortune amidst the glitz and glamour of the Indian Premier League, then adapted his game in order to realise his ambition of becoming a champion in the most demanding format, test cricket;
the young captain whose dream of leading his country turned into a nightmare that took a heavy toll on his well-being;
the resilient performer who overcame rejection and adversity to play a central role in New Zealand cricket’s golden era.
Here is the whole story — in black and white.
