Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor, known widely as Ross Taylor, is a celebrated former New Zealand cricketer, born on March 8, 1984, in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Of Samoan descent, Taylor became one of the most influential figures in New Zealand cricket history, excelling as a right-handed batsman known for his powerful, aggressive strokes. He primarily batted at the number four position and had a distinguished career across all formats, amassing records that have solidified his legacy.

Taylor's cricketing journey began at an early age, showing promise that led him to represent New Zealand in Under-19 matches before breaking into the senior national team. His international debut came in an ODI against the West Indies on March 1, 2006. He quickly established himself as a formidable middle-order batsman, known for his ability to anchor innings and execute big hits. Taylor's first ODI century, a match-winning 128 against Sri Lanka in Napier in 2006, was an early highlight and set the tone for his prolific career.

Throughout his time with the Black Caps, Taylor became known for his resilience, leadership, and consistency. He captained New Zealand for a period, leading the team through a transition phase. However, a public and somewhat controversial change in leadership in 2012 saw him replaced by Brendon McCullum. Despite the setback, Taylor continued to be a vital part of the squad, focusing on contributing runs and mentoring younger players.

Taylor reached several significant milestones. He became New Zealand's highest run-scorer in both Test and ODI formats, ending his career with 7,683 Test runs and 8,607 ODI runs. He was also the first player globally to play 100 matches in all three formats of international cricket (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is). Taylor's skill was particularly evident in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, where his batting helped propel New Zealand to their second consecutive final, though they narrowly lost to England in a historic match. His crowning achievement came with New Zealand’s victory in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 against India.

Off the field, Taylor has been vocal about his heritage and the challenges he faced. As a player of Samoan descent, he represented New Zealand’s diversity and became a voice for inclusivity in cricket. In his autobiography, Black & White, he shed light on the instances of casual racism he encountered in the cricketing world, sparking important conversations about race and identity in sports.

Taylor retired from international cricket in 2022, leaving behind a legacy as one of New Zealand's greatest cricketers. His records, humility, and contributions to the game continue to inspire future generations.

Ross Taylor's career across all three international formats:

One Day Internationals (ODIs)

• Matches Played: 236

• Total Runs: Over 8,600 runs

• Centuries: 21

• Half-Centuries: 51

• Highest Score: 181*

• Notable Achievement: Became New Zealand's highest ODI century-maker, surpassing Nathan Astle.

Test Matches

• Matches Played: 112

• Total Runs: Over 7,500 runs

• Centuries: 19

• Half-Centuries: 35

• Highest Score: 290

• Notable Achievement: Known for his double-century in Australia, becoming the highest scorer for New Zealand in a Test match against Australia.

T20 Internationals (T20Is)

• Matches Played: 102

• Total Runs: Over 1,900 runs

• Highest Score: 63*

• Half-Centuries: 7

• Notable Achievement: First cricketer to play 100 matches in all three formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is).