Cricket: Taylor's return boon for CD

CD Stags see the return of Ross Taylor after eye surgery as a win-win situation. PHOTO/NZME.

It's a win-win situation for the Central Districts with Black Caps newbie Tom Bruce shifting gears while veteran Ross Taylor returning to the Stags fold to make his first appearance in the T20 campaign.

"We're thrilled for Bruiser getting an opportunity when you are in the form and have the opportunity to represent your country and, in the same breath, it's a return to full fitness for Roscoe," said CD coach Heinrich Malan yesterday.

Malan said it would be great to have Taylor around the predominantly youthful Stags who have veteran Sri Lanka import Mahela Jayawardene inspiring them.

"We haven't had a huge amount of Roscoe because of international duties so whenever he comes in he's an unbelievable character.

"The man in the changing room is just as important and plays a big part as the runs so for us it's more important having those sorts of players around with our youngsters so they
can understand how to go about their buisness."

Whether the 32-year-old dumped T20 batsman will be a straight slot into the No 4 position in the William Young-skippered CD side remains to be seen as they await a wicket report and what the Auckland Aces will bring tomorrow to Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.

The country's prolific test run scorer is returning from surgery to ovecome surfer's eye, a condition where a growth of pink, fleshy tissue on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue that lines your eyelids and covers your eyeball. In extreme cases, it can cover your pupil and cause vision problems.

While considered out of form, Taylor still scored a ton against Pakistan here last month with the intention of going under a surgeon's knife.

However, national selector Gavin Larsen said Taylor was dropped from T20 on his performance, not surgery.