Aiming to end semi-finals jinx

Taylor believes New Zealand can make history by qualifying for a first World Cup final.


Afp March 28, 2011

COLOMBO:


Ace batsman and vice-captain Ross Taylor believes New Zealand can make history by qualifying for a first World Cup final by beating co-hosts Sri Lanka tomorrow.


The Black Caps will appear in their sixth World Cup semi-final since losing to eventual winners the West Indies in the inaugural edition held in England in 1975.

Since then New Zealand lost to England (1979), Pakistan (1992 and 1999) and Sri Lanka (2007) but Taylor feels the current team has the ability to go one step further.

“We are proud of our history of making it to the semi-finals,” said the 27-year-old.

“But this team wants to go one step further. We believe we can do that and we want to show it.”

The middle-order batsman said New Zealand have learnt their lessons from a 112-run drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka in the group stages.

“Obviously it’s sudden death, we are taking lot of confidence from our last game,” said Taylor of the upset 49-run win over South Africa.

Learning from Trott

Taylor said batsmen must learn from Jonathan Trott - who made 86 in England’s 10-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in Saturday’s quarter-final - on how to play dangerous Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

“I think the way Trott batted was something that we can learn from, the way he played Murali because he was a big factor in the way Sri Lanka beat us in the last match.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2011.

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