Ross Taylor recognises risk of playing with eye condition

Hamilton: Despite having concerns surrounding his vision problems, veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has expressed his confidence of coping with the same in the second and final Test against Pakistan beginning on Friday at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Although Taylor admitted that the experience of going into a Test match with doubts over his vision was a galling one, he is hoping to stage a strong comeback and get back to his form in the upcoming match.

"All the tests said I had very good vision - I guess the growth was just coming across. I prepared to play, even before I saw the specialists. I am looking forward to this Test. I can't say I'm looking forward to the operation, given what it entails, but I'm sure I'll get over it," Taylor was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"When you play and miss your first couple of balls after seeing an optometrist, there are some interesting things that go through your mind. Finding out during the Test match was a little bit distracting mentally. Eyes are pretty important. Hopefully I can come back and get back to the form I was in a few years ago," he added.

The 32-year-old, who averaged just 14.83 in the Tests in India and scored only three runs in three Test innings in South Africa, received news that the pterygium on his left eye had worsened the day before he went out to bat in the Christchurch Test.

Following the final Test, Taylor will undergo a surgery on his left eye, thus ruling him out of the three-match ODI series against Australia in December.

Reflecting on his surgery, Taylor explained the treatment involves cutting a benign growth on the eye, called a 'pterygium', before it gets larger.

"The surgery involves cutting your eye, and cutting the growth. Then they'll take a little bit from under the eyelid and glue it in so the growth doesn't come back," Taylor said.

"With any operation there's always a chance that things don't go as well as possible. The surgeon I talked to last night was pretty confident that the recovery time is as we had said. After four to six weeks there could be a period when it does deteriorate a little bit, but hopefully I can get it back after a little while," he emphasized.

Earlier, New Zealand physiotherapist Tommy Simsek had confirmed that Taylor had been cleared to play the Hamilton Test after successfully undergoing all the tests.

However, Northern Districts' batsman Dean Brownlie had been put on standby by the selectors, as cover for Taylor.

The Black Caps are currently leading the two-match series 1-0 following their comfortable eight-wicket win in the opening match in Christchurch.