Chris Gayle is an inspiration for me says Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor (Image - ICC)

May 27 (CRICKETNMORE) - Ross Taylor remains undecided on his ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup future but if another four years is his desire, he doesn’t have far to look for inspiration.

At 35 the upcoming event in England & Wales could be the New Zealand legend’s final World Cup bow, keen to keep pressure at a minimum over the coming weeks.

That continues on Tuesday when they face West Indies in their final warm-up game – a side with a certain 39-year-old Chris Gayle in their ranks.

Age has proven merely a number for the Universe Boss with runs scored and sixes struck aplenty, with Taylor looking to follow in the lead of a man who has played internationals since 1999.

“My approach to the World Cup is not necessarily a mindset of going out there just to enjoy it,” explained Taylor.

“You always put a lot of pressure on yourself in big tournaments – pressure comes with it whether you think about it or not, so it’s about managing those moments.

“I’m 35 but you never really know what’s to come. Chris Gayle is probably an inspiration – he’s 39 in this World Cup and I’m 39 at the next, so it’s not a simple matter.

“You never know, this will probably be my last World Cup but if these hamstrings and calves hold together then maybe I can be back in a few years.”

If age is a question for Taylor to answer then form certainly isn’t, scoring 71 in New Zealand’s impressive six-wicket warm-up victory over India at The Oval.

No Kiwi comes close to the 67 centuries or fifties he has in ODI cricket but with a World Cup trophy still absent from his cabinet, the work isn’t done yet.

Finalists four years ago, the bid to go one better has started promisingly pre-tournament but with nine group matches to come before the knockout stages, Taylor – in his fourth World Cup – is not one for getting ahead of himself.

“I think you have to pace yourself in a tournament like this, it’s a long time and the way our schedule is, there are a lot of games at the start and a bit of a break in the middle,” he added.

“The way you rest and train between games is going to be very important.

“When it comes to a warm-up you just treat it as that and then get out of the game what you want to get out of it.

“For us, we haven’t played as a team for two or three months, so it was about going out there and testing our skills out against the best.

“It’s going to be a lot tougher, making the final four years ago we played a lot of games at home and we knew our conditions very well.

“If you get off to a good start and get onto a roll, you can get into those semi-finals and suddenly you’re only two wins away from winning it.”

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ICC