Auckland, September 5, 2025: Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has announced a surprise return to competitive cricket, this time donning Samoa’s colours for the Asia–East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Oman.
The 41-year-old batting stalwart has been named in Samoa’s 15-man squad, captained by Caleb Jasmat.
Confirming the news, Taylor expressed pride in representing his ancestral roots:
“It’s official — I’m proud to announce that I’ll be pulling on the blue and representing Samoa in cricket. This is more than just a return to the game I love — it’s a huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family.”
He added that he is eager to share his vast international experience with Samoa’s rising cricketers:
“I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the game, join the squad, and share my experience on and off the field.”
According to ESPNCricinfo, Taylor qualifies to play for Samoa through his mother’s heritage and holds a Samoan passport. Having last featured for New Zealand in April 2022, he became eligible after completing the three-year ICC cooling-off period for players switching national teams.
Taylor enjoyed a glittering international career spanning 16 years, during which he played:
- 112 Tests, scoring 7,683 runs
- 236 ODIs, amassing 8,607 runs
- 102 T20Is, scoring 1,909 runs
He is regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest batters and still stands among the country’s top-five T20I run-scorers, despite not featuring in the format since November 2020.
Samoa’s selectors have also drafted in Sean Solia, the 32-year-old Auckland all-rounder, and Darius Visser, who made headlines in 2024 by smashing six sixes in a single over against Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko.
Samoa sealed their spot in the regional qualifiers after overcoming Vanuatu, Cook Islands, and Fiji earlier this year. They will now face Papua New Guinea and Japan from the East Asia-Pacific region, alongside Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE in Oman.
