Ross Taylor reveals in his just-published book, Ross Taylor Black & White, that he sounded Ben Stokes out while playing with him for English county Durham in 2010. Ben Stokes – the Kiwi-born all-rounder who helped England beat the Black Caps in the World Cup 2019 final – could have been playing for New Zealand if former New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor had had his way. He said that as a 17-year-old in 2009 – a year before Ross Taylor joined Durham – that his long-term goal was “to play for England when I’m older. Ben Stokes moved to England aged 12 when his father, former Kiwis rugby footballer Gerard Stokes, got a professional league coaching job in Cumbria. Ben Stokes, who had blasted 84 off 98 balls in regulation play, helped Jos Buttler add 15 in the super over as England claimed the title.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 15, 2022 21:06 UTC