'You've got to be prepared for anything': Ross Taylor
Dubai: New Zealand middle-order batsman Ross Taylor on Tuesday said that the team needs to be prepared for all type of conditions in the upcoming World Cup and the team should possess the skills to adapt accordingly.
The player also cited the Champions Trophy 2017 saying that there were not many big scores in that tournament, adding that it is the mindset that actually matters in the big tournaments.
"You don't have to go too far back to the Champions Trophy in 2017, when a lot of people talked about big scores and there weren't a lot at that tournament. You've just got to be flexible, there will be times when the bowlers dominate and the batters will dominate as well. You've got to be prepared for anything and adapt accordingly," International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Taylor as saying.
The 35-year-old highlighted the importance of warm-up matches before the World Cup and he even praised the format of this year's World Cup, saying it will be more exciting playing the tournament in this format.
"The game against India on the 25th (warm-up match) would be a great preparation. They are one of the stronger sides and are favourites going into the tournament. It will be good for us to go out there and have a good hit out as a team," Taylor said.
"The format, with everyone playing everybody, similar to the 1992 World Cup, is pretty exciting and a pretty fair reflection, I think. If you see at World Cups going around in all major sports, it's more of a Pool-type scenario," he added.
New Zealand's 15-man squad for upcoming World Cup: Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham.
New Zealand will play warm-up games against India and West Indies on May 25 and 28 respectively, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1.