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The way this team fought, it’s something I’ll never forget: Ross Taylor on winning WTC Final

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Ross Taylor has been part of the New Zealand side which lost the semi-final in the 2007 ODI World Cup, of the side which lost the semi-final once again in the 2007 T20 World Cup, in 2011 ODI World Cup, 2015 World Cup Final and the latest a boundaries count loss in the 2019 World Cup Final. It was finally redemption day for him and his team New Zealand when they won the inaugural World Test Championship at Hampshire Bowl, Southampton. 

For Taylor, it was the winning mentality and never give up attitude of the team that got them to their first World title. Talking in an interview post-match, the 37-year-old said, “A lot of rain but the way the team fought from day one, to be out there in a crucial situation for a little bit, it's something I'll never forget.”

Talking about the feeling of finally being World Champion, Taylor, who completed 18,000 runs in international cricket in this very match said, “Still sinking in but it's been a couple of years coming. This would have to be the highlight of my career.”

Taylor, who made his Test debut in 2007 and was made the skipper of the Test team and then removed unceremoniously just before the now ‘iconic’ Capetown Test which led to the reconstruction of the is team, maybe from their own ‘Ashes’ of a sort,  couldn’t be happier to win a World title with this team. 

“At the start of my career, I felt we probably didn't have the side to do this. But am sure there are a few Kiwis waking up who will be very proud,” said Taylor. The first person of Samoan descent to represent a New Zealand cricket team, Taylor felt that this Trophy more than made up for the World Cup loss two years ago. 

“There was a lot of pressure, it was nice to be standing up to it. 2019 World Cup was something that was very tough for us at the time, but this makes up for that. Over time, it'll sink in a little more,” he said before signing off. 

Taylor played an important knock in the second innings when New Zealand chased down 139. Taylor remained unbeaten on 47 and fittingly hit the winning four. He added unbeaten 96 runs for the fourth wicket alongside skipper Kane Williamson having come at a troubling situation with New Zealand at 44-2 and Ravichandran Ashwin firing all cylinders.

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Tim Southee relishes 'rewarding' World Test Championship triumph after years of hard work

One of the chief architects of New Zealand’s rise to the top of the world in Test cricket, Tim Southee called winning the World Test Championship final a ‘rewarding’ result for all the hard work put in by the side over the last couple of years. “Yes, sounds pretty good. Two years ago we started this journey and winning the WTC is regarding all the hard work,” Southee told official broadcaster Star Sports. Pointing out what made New Zealand a competitive side in the WTC cycle that began in 2019, Southee said that the Blackcaps made a habit of not giving up at any stage, and the team management adopted a consistency in team selection while players repaid the faith with consistency in performances. “I think consistency is the key. Consistency through selection, consistency through performances, never giving up. Satisfying to be able to sit back and see what we have achieved in the last two years. Pretty special feeling this,” Southee added. New Zealand were given a target of 139 runs which could have been a tricky target to chase if not for the experience of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson and Southee said that the duo settled things down in the New Zealand dressing room. “Yes, the change room is a lot calmer with two experienced guys out there. Once they got in, it was probably the longest 140 runs we have ever experienced but ut was nice to have two experienced guys in the middle to do the job,” Southee said. Southee also credited BJ Watling for an outstanding career at the international level and said that his behaviour throughout the course of his career epitomises New Zealand’s team culture. "His behaviour best sums up what this team means for and one of our champion bloke, champion cricketer going on a high,” Southee reckoned. New Zealand’s win over India in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship will serve as a great sense of pride among their fans after a heartbreaking loss in the final of the ODI World Cup two years back.

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