In a stunning development, Ross Taylor, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated cricketers, has announced his return to competitive cricket — but not for the BlackCaps.
The 41-year-old former Kiwi batter will represent Samoa in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, which begins on October 8, 2025, in Oman.
Taylor, who retired from international cricket in 2022 after a career spanning 112 Tests, 236 ODIs, and 102 T20Is, confirmed the news on Instagram.
“Coming out of retirement. 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,” Taylor wrote.
Holding a Samoan passport through his mother’s heritage, Taylor became eligible to represent Samoa after a three-year stand-down period following his last match for New Zealand in April 2022.
The Asia-East Asia-Pacific Qualifier is the final step in Samoa’s journey toward the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Taylor’s inclusion brings significant experience to Samoa’s squad, which is captained by Caleb Jasmat. His presence is expected to provide a major boost to the team’s chances of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup appearance.
For New Zealand, Ross Taylor remains one of the most prolific run-scorers of all time, amassing over 18,000 runs across formats, including 1909 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 122.37. He has also played in seven IPL seasons and five CPL editions.
