The 33-year-old returns to Hamilton’s Seddon Park today for the second test against the West Indies, coming off the innings and 67-run victory in Wellington.
The home team is settled. Quick bowler Tim Southee, back from paternity leave, is the only change, coming in for Matt Henry.
The touring side, on the other hand, has its captain suspended and will face Taylor on a ground where he has scored four test centuries. That was before he had a pterygium removed after the Hamilton test against Pakistan last November, and began seeing the ball better.
"I actually see the ball swing for the first time in a couple of years. I don’t know how I got any runs before that," Taylor joked yesterday.
"Seriously, I do see the ball swing a little bit more than I used to, especially earlier on. I think I notice it more when I play day-night games and it’s a bit darker.
"That’s when i really struggled and at the start of my innings. Touch wood it’s OK, a year ago ... it’s gone quick."
Taylor is sitting on 16 test tons and much has been made of his 17th, which would put him level with his mentor, Martin Crowe. It could happen in Hamilton, where Taylor now lives.
In the past he had focused on goals, but now it was more about going through the right preparation.
"I know if I go through the right preparation, give myself the best chance and continually do that, I’ll be able to get to 17, 18 or whatever."
"Seventeen is the benchmark that Hogan [Crowe] wanted me to get to and beat — beat his amount that he got but he said also carry on and don’t stop there.
"In time, Kane [Williamson] will probably end up with about 40, so we’ll just work it out after that."
Meanwhile, the West Indies have admitted their first innings let them down in the opening test in Wellington.
New skipper Kraigg Brathwaite said a bigger first-innings score was the priority in Hamilton.
The touring side will be without its captain Jason Holder for this match. He was suspended for a slow over rate during the heavy loss at the Basin Reserve.
"I am quite excited ... not the ideal situation," Brathwaite said of his first test in charge.
"I think Jason has been doing a fantastic job, so my job is to carry on what he’s doing."
The Windies managed just 134 in their first innings in Wellington and never got back in the match.
"What hurts us a lot was the first innings ... we didn’t get a big enough total," Brathwaite conceded.
"Building partnerships will be key.
"Obviously, in the second innings we got a few more partnerships but we still didn’t get that hundred-run partnership.
"If we could get a couple of hundred-run partnerships that’ll put us very good — in terms of batting."
Brathwaite top-scored for the West Indies in Wellington and his second-innings 91 offered his side some hope. But aside from Shai Hope, no other West Indian batsman faced more than 100 balls in the second innings.
"As an opening batsman I like to lead from the front ... that’s something I back myself on," Brathwaite said.
The West Indies are yet to decide on their final XI.
They could recall proven spinner Devendra Bishoo, go for the pace of six-test Alzarri Joseph or hand a debut to all-rounder Raymon Reifer, who bowls left-arm medium fast.
NZ v West Indies
Second test
Hamilton, starts today at 11am
Squads. —
Black Caps: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Tom Blundell, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich, Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins, Jermaine Blackwood, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer.
