Will Ross Taylor finally get his win at 2019 Cricket World Cup?

We talk to the NZ cricket star about staying calm and confident ahead of the ICC World Cup

The 2019 Cricket World Cup has opened to a thrilling first match, with England smashing South Africa, and all-rounder Ben Stokes’ one-handed catch sure to go down in the history books.

For the Black Caps, their first match is kicking off tomorrow, against Sri Lanka. Having come so close to a win at the 2015 World Cup, the New Zealand team are eager to perform well this year.

It’s exciting times for batsman Ross Taylor who this year became New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in one-day internationals. With an impressive 218 ODI’s and 20 centuries under his belt, returning for the fourth time to the Cricket World Cup holds a special place in Taylor’s heart.

“The 1992 World Cup was really inspiring to me as a young kid,” he tells us. “Having it in our own country, and the way everyone got behind the team was amazing. Martin Crowe getting his first century and everyone running onto the pitch against Australia is something I’ll never forget.

Having now surpassed his idol Crowe’s century record, Taylor is excited to make his family and country proud as he heads into this year’s Cricket World Cup. “I just love playing for New Zealand. This World Cup is something I’ve had in my mind for quite a while now, hopefully I can contribute to some wins!”

Taylor’s plan of attack: stay calm, stay focused

The 2019 Cricket World Cup marks Taylor’s fourth attempt at taking home the top prize. So what’s his plan of attack heading into this year?

Using his veteran experience to his advantage, Taylor is focused on remaining calm. “The more I’ve played, the more relaxed I try to be. I’m looking at staying calm and sticking to my routines.”

While you’d think Taylor’s impressive accolades would be enough to back him up, he admits to still getting superstitious before a game. “Typically I’d wear my lucky socks, lucky tights, even wear my pads a certain way! Those things are really important.”

Advice to new teammates: don’t give into the pressure

With many new players embarking on their first Cricket World Cup, Taylor is reminding his teammates not to let the pressure get to them, and simply enjoy it.

“Quite often ICC World Cups are about hype and pressure,” he remarks. “There’s enough pressure on you already without having to put more on yourself – you’ve got to go out there and enjoy it!”

This positive approach may in fact be Taylor’s secret weapon, “more often than not, if you just enjoy the game, you can oftentimes get better results.”

Reflecting on his decade-long career with the Black Caps, Taylor recognises that this mental approach has been his biggest improvement since first playing the game. “Cricket is a very mental game. It’s a combination of everything: experience, staying composed, the way you prepare on and off the pitch.”

To strengthen this mental muscle, often the best thing to do is take a break from it all, Taylor tells us. “When you play so often, having your mind fresh for those long, hard tours becomes quite important.”

Overcoming the challenges of each pitch

Having built up a solid career across cricket’s many formats, Taylor’s learned that each game demands a different strategy and mindset.

So how does this NZ cricket star tailor his playing strategy across different formats? Again, Taylor trusts his years of experience when adapting to the different styles. “The more you play, the better you get. But there’s definitely an adjustment. It’s about making a mental shift more than anything else.”

Speaking of strategy, have the Black Caps changed tactics this year, in the wake of their 2015 finals loss?

When it comes to the team’s main challenges, Taylor stresses the importance of treating each pitch differently. “Playing at home and knowing your conditions is definitely an advantage. The intricate differences at each ground create a different wicket where you can only read it to the best of your ability.”

Reigniting the Trans-Tasman rivalry

With the BlackCaps set to play every nation once in the round robin, the tournament format is a long one, but there is one team he is particularly looking forward to facing. Having narrowly missed out on the win against Australia in 2015, Taylor is eager to prove himself against his Aussie rivals once more.

“The game against Australia at Lords will be a big one,” he says. While trying to stay calm under pressure, Taylor recognises the importance of the match. “There’s a lot riding on NZ cricket for that game from our performance last time, so it’s one match I’m particularly looking forward to.”

Does NZ have a chance at another final?

With England and India tipped as the favourites this year, the fourth-ranked Black Caps will need to fight it out if they want to have a chance at another final.

If New Zealand does make the final for a second time, which team does Taylor expect to be batting against? “England are the team to beat this time,” he tells us. “They’ve had the number one cricket ranking a few years now, plus they’ve got the benefit of playing at home this time around.”

Remaining calm and level-headed, Taylor is remembering to take his own advice by enjoying the game and trusting his mental endurance.

With a proven track record and veteran experience, it’s clear that Taylor is still at the top of his game. But will this be enough for the Kiwi team to take home the win?

As Taylor and the Black Caps set their sights to the spectacle of the World Cup, New Zealand cricket fans will have to wait and see.