India have the ability to bounce back - Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor

New Zealand comfortably defeated India in the first One-Day international at Napier by 24 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, but Taylor, a senior member of the Kiwi squad, has warned his team that India have the ability to bounce back.

“It was a great start for us, a great all-round team performance on Sunday. We all performed our roles exceptionally well and carried our form from the West Indies series, especially the T20s,” said Taylor.

“But India are a very good side and their whole team has got a balance to it. Being the number one team in the world in ODIs, I am sure they will come back in the series,” he explained.

“Hamilton is the slowest wicket we have. So it will be a bit more to their liking. We have two matches here. The wicket plays low compared to the bouncy Napier wicket. But we know the conditions better and we have played here a couple times this season. So hopefully we can play accordingly,” he added.

The former New Zealand captain scored a half-century at Napier and added 121 runs for the third wicket with Kane Williamson, a partnership which kick-started the recovery process after the Kiwis had lost their openers cheaply.

“I would like to carry on my good form. A couple of times against the West Indies, I got run out, but I am comfortable where I am right now with my batting. My role is to bat in that middle order and lay a platform for the guys coming through,” said Taylor.

He concluded by saying: “We have a few power hitters in the lower order so if I can come out with some donkey work helping them to express themselves, it’s very well. I hope to express myself later on as well and not get out in the power play like I did at Napier.”