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September 5, 2025

Ross Taylor to play for Samoa in T20 World Cup qualifiers

Ross Taylor to play for Samoa in T20 World Cup qualifiers
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Ross Taylor, one of New Zealand’s all-time greats pulling the gloves back on but not for the Black Caps. At 41, Taylor has joined Samoa’s T20 squad for the Asia-East Asia-Pacific qualifier in Oman, with the chance to push his heritage side toward the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The announcement came Friday, and Taylor himself framed it as deeply personal. “It’s the huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family,” he wrote on Instagram. The words hit different. 

Taylor, who retired in 2022 after piling up more than 19,000 international runs across formats, became eligible for Samoa through his mother’s lineage after completing a three-year cooling-off period. And he’s not arriving alone. Experienced batter Sean Solia is also in the squad, alongside big-hitter Darius Visser, the man who once smashed six sixes in a single over.

The mix of pedigree and raw flair suddenly gives Samoa a lineup to watch. Imagine Taylor anchoring the innings while Visser goes berserk at the other end. That picture alone makes the qualifiers feel unpredictable.

Taylor last played a T20I in 2020. The shocking thing is, he still sits fifth on New Zealand’s all-time run charts in the format. Now, he gets a chance to add a new chapter in the blue of Samoa. For fans across both nations, one question hangs in the air: can Ross Taylor inspire a World Cup dream one more time? Watch tapmad for all the latest cricket related updates.


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