New Zealand v England: Trevor Bayliss expects Ross Taylor to play in ODI series finale
Friday 9 March 2018 21:28, UK
Trevor Bayliss expects Ross Taylor to be fit for New Zealand in their one-day international series decider against England - watch the fifth ODI live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.30pm on Friday.
Taylor aggravated a thigh injury during the fourth ODI in Dunedin but still managed to score an unbeaten 181 as the Black Caps successfully chased down a target of 336 to claim a five-wicket victory and level the series at 2-2.
Bayliss believes he will be fit for the finale and joked he is a more dangerous player carrying an injury than fully fit.
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"Definitely - that's what we're planning on," Bayliss said when asked whether Taylor would be available to the home side.
"If he didn't happen to play that would be a surprise."
Taylor also hit a match-winning hundred in the series opener in his home town of Hamilton, before he was forced to miss the third match in Wellington before returning at the University Oval.
"Let's hope he doesn't get an injury, because he plays pretty well when he gets injured," added Bayliss.
He was coy, though, when asked if England have worked out any new plans to try to keep Taylor quiet.
"It's one of the things we're going to chat about today at practice," he said. "I don't want to give him any head-starts... he certainly doesn't need it."
Victory for Eoin Morgan's side would see England secure a sixth successive ODI series victory, with Bayliss hoping their good form continues into next year's World Cup in England and Wales.
"These one-off matches, where it counts, it will be a good test for our guys - heading into that World Cup," said Bayliss.
"The way we've been playing one-day cricket, and obviously playing at home, we should go into that tournament as one of the favourites.
"With that, it brings a little bit of extra pressure - having to win those one-off matches - so this is a good test."
Both teams are likely to be unchanged for the series decider, though England could decide to recall David Willey - who played in the first two ODIs - for Mark Wood.
New Zealand (possible): Kane Williamson (Captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wkt), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult
England (possible): Eoin Morgan (Captain), Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Watch the ODI series decider between New Zealand and England. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Cricket at 9:30pm on Friday and 10pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
