Mumbai: Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has passed an eye test and will be available to play against Pakistan in the second Test match at Seddon Park in Hamilton. However, he will undergo an eye surgery on a benign growth of the conjunctiva after the Test. This will rule him out of the middle for six weeks.
Taylor did not bat in the second innings of the first Test of the
series at Christchurch after having a preliminary eye test on the
first day. His place in the team was in question because of his eye problem. But the good news for the Kiwis is that Taylor will play in the second Test that begins on Friday.
After New Zealand wrapped up the first Test on Sunday, Coach Mike Hesson said that the middle order Kiwi batsman had experienced a problem with vision out of the eye for about a year and a test showed it may have deteriorated “quicker” than hoped.
However, the second eye examination in Hamilton indicated a positive prognosis. “Ross has a pterygium on his left eye, which is gradually getting bigger. Both the specialists he’s seen in recent days have advised Ross still has 20/20 vision and Ross himself feels confident he is ready to play,” team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek said in a media release.
“Ross will still need to undergo a medical procedure on his eye to
remove the pterygium before it gets any larger. He’ll have surgery following the test which rule him out of cricket for approximately four-to-six weeks.”
Northern District’s batsman Dean Brownlie had been put on standby by the selectors, as cover for Taylor, when New Zealand Cricket announced the squad for the second Test against Pakistan.
After it series against Pakistan, the Kane Williamson-led Kiwi side
will head to Australia to play three ODIs for the Chappell-Hadlee
Trophy. The three matches will be played in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne on December 4, 6 and 9.