Taylor makes seamless return: McCullum

Saturday, 9 February 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ross Taylor has made a seamless return to the New Zealand cricket team environment, says the man who replaced him as skipper – Brendon MCullum. The 28-year-old top-order batsman is back in the Black Caps fold for the first time since he was relieved of the captaincy two months ago.

Having made himself unavailable for the tour of South Africa, Taylor will resume his international career in Auckland on Saturday in the first of three Twenty20 matches against England.

While Taylor on Thursday described his relationship with coach Mike Hesson, who had pushed for the captaincy change, as “a work in progress,” McCullum is confident the issue will not have an impact on performance.

“Everyone’s fine,” McCullum said on Friday. “Ross has come back into the group and fitted in seamlessly and we’re expecting a big performance out of him.” McCullum said there had been no need for the team to deal with the issue this week. “We addressed it in South Africa, when it was playing out,” he said.

“But there’s certainly no need to now. The inner sanctum of the group is working well together and is a cohesive unit so far, so we’re comfortable where it sits.”

McCullum said Taylor and Hesson were working together professionally and he believed everything would heal over time. He was sure that Taylor would be able to set aside what had happened and go out and produce his best.

“He’s come back in yesterday and he was smiling, he was happy – he was a definite part of the group,” he said. “Ross is a fabulous cricketer and he’s proven that so far in his career – his ability to step up time and time again on the international stage.”

Taylor will bat at number four at Eden Park, one slot below McCullum, while new cap Hamish Rutherford will open with Martin Guptill.