Photo Credit: Brisbane Heat
New Zealand’s most-capped international player, Ross Taylor, will bring his knowledge and experience from two decades of top-tier cricket to the Brisbane Heat during KFC BBL|14.
The Kiwi great, who scored 18,199 runs in 450 international matches (including 47 as captain) across all three formats, has joined Johan Botha’s BBL Heat support staff as batting coach.
Taylor, 40, has worked with the Heat squad over the weekend in Brisbane and will travel with the group later today to prepare for the reigning champions’ Wednesday night season opener against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
A mainstay at number four throughout his Black Caps career, Taylor’s finest hour came against Australia in 2015 when he smashed 290 at the WACA Ground.
Taylor’s career also featured stints in franchise T20 leagues in the Caribbean, England, India and New Zealand, highlighted by three strong seasons with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL’s formative years.
After going unselected in the inaugural BBL Draft in September 2022, Taylor concluded his domestic career on home soil in February 2023 and turned his hand to coaching.
His first backroom appointment came with Major League Cricket’s Seattle Orcas, where he has served as batting coach in the competition’s first two seasons.
He worked with Botha at the Orca in their MLC’s inaugural season before accepting his current role in Brisbane.
“Ross is not long out of an outstanding playing career, and I am confident he will relate well to our batting group having seen him embark on his coaching career,’’ Botha said.
“I’m pleased to be working with Ross again. He and Colin Munro have a long associations well, and their knowledge and experience will also be important to our preparations.”
Taylor’s appointment continues the Heat’s strong connection to New Zealand Cricket, with Taylor joining Dan Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Shane Bond, John Bracewell, James Franklin and Colin Munro as coaches or players who have been tied to the club.
The Heat will finalise their squad later today for Wednesday’s clash with the Stars.
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Name of Author: Brisbane Heat
The Brisbane Heat are an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing both men’s and women’s cricket. Based in Brisbane, Queensland, the Heat succeeded the Queensland Bulls, who played in the former KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. The team wears a teal uniform and plays at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as The Gabba.
