Ross Taylor forgoes South Africa Tests to end career playing his favourite format against Australia

Ross Taylor, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday, December 30th, 2021 said that he chose to play ODI cricket against Australia away from home as supposed Tests against South Africa at home because ODI is his favourite format and Australia one of his favourite places to play cricket.

"The Australian series is really close and with quarantine and coming back, it's probably going to be one side that goes to Australia and the Test side will stay behind. That's what made the decision a lot easier.

It would have been nice to play against South Africa, but Australia's a place I've always enjoyed ... and finishing my career playing one-day cricket which is probably my best format,” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Talking about the timing of his retirement so close to the ODI World Cup in 2023, Taylor said, "It's the right time for me and my family. At the same time, I've still got some cricket to play. In an ideal world, I would have played and then [announced] it at the end, but at this level, you can't do that."

"It's something that I've thought about for a long time, it's not a decision I've made in the last couple of weeks. It's nice to have a bit of clarity and finish on your own terms. I think it's just the right time for me and my family," he added.

Taylor, who became the first player in the world to play more than 100 games in all three formats, said that he was never sure about his Test cricket, but is very proud that he was able to mould his game and went on to represent his country in more than 100 Tests.

"After my first Test series I thought that was me done, so I've done alright since then. I always thought I could play one-day cricket, I wasn't [100 per cent] on whether I'd be a good Test player or not, but I worked hard at that and I think that's probably my greatest achievement.

I could have just smacked it and averaged 30-odd but I changed my game for the team, I don't think many people would have been able to move their game in that direction and I'm happy I made that decision,” he said.

Taylor, who made his debut in March 2006 would bid goodbye to the game in April 2022 at the end of the New Zealand summer with three ODIs against a touring Netherlands side. In between then and now, he would play two Tests against Bangladesh and three ODIs against Australia.

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SA vs IND | Skipper Elgar puts opening woes in perspective, backs Markram after Centurion loss

South Africa skipper Dean Elgar had to face a multi-pronged defeat in the first Test of the series against India. First, he had to see the Indian openers build on a partnership that set the platform for India’s domination in the game against his inconsistent and underprepared bowling attack. At the next level, he and his opening partner Aiden Markram had to confront a rampant pace attack on the second day. The Indian pace attack did not return the got their batsmen got from their counterparts and rather produced unplayable deliveries to both him and his partner to get India on top. Elgar comes across as a gentleman of the game and he had no qualms in conceding being outplayed by India in both the departments in Centurion. He showered praise on the Indian batting order for executing the “fundamentals” better than he and his partners. However, he did not come hard at his teammates and backed his battling opening partner saying that he received unplayable delivery and got out in an unfortunate manner in the second innings. He underscored the importance of solid partnership at the top of the order while at the same time highlighting the challenges of the role as they face the opposition bowling attack at their most potent level. "We know what it is about. Opening in Test cricket and facing the new ball is not easy. You get a good ball and you're watching the rest of the game," Elgar said. "They executed their batting fundamentals better and utilised the first hour in their favour. They left well, attacked when they needed to, so they must get credit for that." "Aiden and I have had the rough of the green at the moment. I got a good ball in the first innings and that happens," Elgar said. "We're very mindful that as the opening pair, we need to start well and capitalise on good starts when we have the opportunity. "Aiden's dismissal in the second innings was a rough one. It wasn't a ball that should have got him out. When you're behind in a Test match, these kinds of things happen." Elgar would hope that his gritty innings of 77 runs in the fourth innings of the game would set a template for his teammates in the remaining two games of the series. South Africa have never faced defeat against India in a home series and Elgar had taken pride in the history before the start of the series. He would hope his players will back the talk with performances such as his in the last innings of the first Tests to turn things around in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Babar, Shakib, Malan and Stirling battle to be crowned ICC Men's ODI Player of the Year

The International Cricket Council, after announcing nominees for the Men’s T20I Player of the Year 2021, also revealed the list of nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year ODIs. A format that was played very rarely this year. The list of four was shared by names, that do not find their mention on the lips of all cricket followers. The great all-rounder from Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan shared the space with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, Ireland’s hard-hitting batter Paul Stirling and a new batting sensation from South Africa Janneman Malan. Shakib was at the top of his form returning from his one year ban after the 2019 ODI World Cup. The left-hander started the year by grabbing the Player of the Series award against West Indies. In total, he scored 277 runs at an average of 39.57 with two fifties and also took 17 wickets at an average of 17.52 in only nine games. He won yet another Player of the Series against Zimbabwe. On the other hand, Pakistan skipper, also the number one ODI batter in the ICC rankings, Babar Azam presents a stiff challenge to Shakib. Even after having played just six games this year, the right-handed batter managed to score 405 at an average of 67.50 and also hit two centuries to go with it. His best showing was the knock of 158 against England when his team scored 331 but still lost the game. 158 is Babar’s highest score in ODIs. Challenging the two established names is South Africa’s up and coming batter Janneman Malan. The 25-year-old who announced his arrival on the big stage against Australia in 2020 in the three-match T20I series, was finally given a chance to show his skills in the longer format. He grabbed the opportunities with both hands and scored the second highest runs among all players in ODIs this year, amassing 509 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.83 with two centuries and two half-centuries. His two centuries, first a sensational knock of 177 against Ireland and then a 135-ball 121 against Sri Lanka came in tough situations. Against Ireland, it was a matter of series on the line while against Sri Lanka, the Proteas batter showed how with willpower and strength one can catch the game at any stage. Although last in the list in terms of names, Ireland’s Paul Stirling’s candidature for the annual award is not one bit less serious than the other three. The 31-year-old who started the year 2021 with a swashbuckling century against UAE, hit two more, both coming against Afghanistan before hitting two half-centuries, one each against Zimbabwe and Netherlands to become the highest run-getter in ODIs this year. The Dublin born has amassed 705 runs in 14 matches at an average of 79.66.

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SA vs IND | 1st Test: Relentless pacers, disciplined openers help India breach another fortress

India made a light work of the final six wickets of South Africa and won the first Test of the series to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. They were always the favourite to win the first Test after they set South Africa a stiff target of 305 runs on a pitch offering a lot of variable pace and bounce to the pacers. However, the Proteas skipper Dean Elgar brought all his resistance and fortitude to deny India an easy win on the fourth day of the Test. Hence, coming into the final day, which was under clouds of uncertainty due to a heavy chance of rain and thunderstorm, they would have had put Elgar on their threat number one. They would have wanted to remove him and also Temba Bavuma as early as possible to not leave anything to chance considering the bad weather predicted in the latter half of the day. The start was not so good though as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami created opportunities but could not grab them completely. Shami dropped a simple catch off Elgar off his own bowling while various play and misses eluded Bumrah of a prized wicket. Runs started flowing for South Africa as pacers eagerness to bowl fuller length provided South African scoring opportunities. Having seen Elgar getting comfortable with over the wicket angle and most importantly, the narrowing gap between the required number of runs, Bumrah switched to round the wicket angle and produced yet another big wicket just when things were looking a bit tougher for India. He has been an on-demand service delivery pacer for India and there was no stopping of his heroics on the final day of the Test. After Elgar’s departure, Temba Bavuma was the only prominent thorn in India’s flesh and while he carried on his resilient way from the first innings, there was enough callousness from Quinton de Kock at the other end to keep Indian pacers, especially Mohammad Siraj interested. The pacer troubled him on back of length delivery around off stump and he committed all the mistakes he could do to keep India in the game. Another chopped on to his wickets ended de Kock’s stay at the crease and his opportunity in the series as he would be leaving the camp on his paternity leave. Mohammad Shami recovered quickly from his misses in the first hour of the day and found the perfect line and length to dismiss Wian Mulder and Marco Jansen. Jansen’s wicket brought India to touching distance from another fortress-breaching win and Kohli used the art of using resources based on horses for courses principle to perfect effect with Ravichandran Ashwin against Kagiso Rabada. The left-hander played some crisp shots in the first innings off Ashwin and India would’ve been aware of his eagerness to drive off spinners from the crease. Ashwin threw the bait and Rabada took the challenge but only to spoon a dolly to Mohammad Shami, who was more than ready to not repeat another drop catch. Lungi Ngidi was no match to Ashwin’s bounce and inside-edged to Mayank Agarwal and gave India an exhilarating win to mark off one of the finest years they have had in their history of playing the longest format. KL Rahul was adjudged Man of the Match for a splendid hundred in the first innings of the game that laid the platform for a big score for India which Kohli rated the “difference” between the sides. The second Test of the series will be played at the Wanderers Stadium, in Johannesburg from January 03.