Ross Taylor ‘jealous’ of Nathan Lyon after not getting a signed shirt from India for playing 100 Tests

There is always room for fun banters in cricket. Be it on the field or off the field, it keeps everyone entertained and going. New Zealand’s senior statesman Ross Taylor, did exactly that and had jokingly pulled the leg of Australia’s Nathan Lyon who got a signed shirt from Ajinkya Rahane and team members for playing 100 Test matches.

England Test skipper Joe Root, too, returned empty-handed as Indian captain Virat Kohli didn’t give him a signed shirt either. Root scored a memorable double hundred in the Chennai Test, but that too didn’t help his cause as he was denied that honour from the Kohli-led team and his mates.

Now Taylor, who incidentally played his 100th Test versus India in February 2020 is jealous of Lyon as he got the signed shirt and he left with nothing. The veteran while speaking to The Grade Cricketer spoke about this incident.

“I played India in my 100th Test last year, and I didn’t get a shirt. I’m a bit jealous of Nathan. We played a couple of series before, and I’m watching the game and I’m watching him (Lyon) getting a shirt and I’m like ‘Aaah, okay!’,” Taylor said.

Ross Taylor gearing up for the WTC Final against India

For the time being, Taylor has a very important task of manning the middle-order in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India, which got underway on Friday albeit rain playing a spoilsport and washing away the whole of first day’s play. The overcast condition will come into effect and the 37-year-old will be all the more crucial for his team, with his vast amount of experience.

Along with skipper Kane Williamson, Taylor is the other senior player and will be eying to get at least one world trophy before bidding adieu to the game. The right-hand batter made his debut for New Zealand way back in 2006 and since then has been a vital cog for his team often delivering in crunch situations and playing the sheet anchor’s role to perfection.

The Blackcaps have reached the finals of ICC events two times only to agonizingly falling short on both occasions. Can Taylor get his fitting farewell? Or will India ruin his parade? The answer will soon be out on June 23 in the WTC Final.