Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has announced his return to competitive cricket, this time representing Samoa in the Asia–East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers to be held in Oman.
Taylor, 41, was included in Samoa’s 15-man squad led by Caleb Jasmat. Sharing his excitement, the veteran cricketer said: "It's official - I'm proud to announce that I'll be pulling on the blue and representing Samoa in cricket. This is more than just a return to the game I love - it's the huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family."
"I'm excited for the opportunity to give back to the game, join the squad, and share my experience on and off the field," he added.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Taylor qualifies to play for Samoa through his mother’s heritage and a Samoan passport. Having last played for New Zealand in April 2022, he became eligible after completing the required three-year cooling-off period.
During a decorated international career spanning 16 years, Taylor played 112 Tests, 236 ODIs and 102 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 7683, 8607 and 1909 runs respectively. He remains one of New Zealand’s greatest-ever batters and still ranks as the team’s fifth-highest run-scorer in T20Is, despite his last appearance in the format coming in November 2020.
Alongside Taylor, Samoa have also called up 32-year-old Sean Solia, an experienced Auckland cricketer, to boost their batting strength. The squad also features big-hitting Darius Visser, who made headlines in 2024 by smashing six sixes in a single over against Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko.
Samoa secured their spot in the qualifiers after overcoming Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Fiji. They will now compete with Papua New Guinea and Japan from the East Asia-Pacific region, alongside Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar and UAE.
Samoa squad: Caleb Jasmat (captain), Ross Taylor, Darius Visser, Sean Solia, Daniel Burgess, Douglas Finau, Sam French, Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg, Ben Mailata, Noah Mead, Solomon Nash, Samson Sola, Fereti Sululoto, Saumani Tiai, Ili Tugaga.
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