Ross Taylor    

Ross Taylor could be just what New Zealand need in the wake of the mass of departures from their batting line-up: an aggressive top-order batsman capable of taking up the challenge to world-class attacks. He made a flying start to the domestic 2005-06 season, with three centuries, and was soon in his country's limited-overs side. In only his third match, Taylor hammered a superb 128 against Sri Lanka at Napier and he followed it up with 84 at better than a run a ball in his first ODI outside New Zealand, at Hobart against Australia in January 2007. But in both matches he suffered from cramps and would be keen to eradicate that problem as he strives for more lengthy innings. He scores heavily from the pull and from slog-sweeping the spinners and his free-flowing game has made him a hit with crowds. There was evidence of that during the IPL and Champions League when the Bangalore crowds cheered him as their 'local' hero.

Given New Zealand's lack of Tests it wasn't until the 2007-08 tour of South Africa that Taylor made his debut and he struggled against the extra bounce. Back at home he was dropped against Bangladesh, but return in style against England with his maiden century, 120, at Hamilton and then followed that with a memorable 154 at Old Trafford, confirming he now carries New Zealand's batting hopes. A leadership role wasn't too far away and he was named captain for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in 2010 after Vettori and McCullum opted out.

However, Taylor's two-year captaincy stint ended in controversy when it emerged that he and Mike Hesson, the coach who took over from John Wright, didn't have a comfortable relationship. During Taylor's 13-Test captaincy stint New Zealand notched up rare wins in Australia and Sri Lanka, but immediately after the Sri Lanka tour he stepped down in controversial circumstances, as Brendon McCullum was named captain in all formats. After deciding not to tour South Africa, he returned for New Zealand's home series against England, admitting that his relationship with Hesson was still a "work in progress".
Brydon Coverdale and ESPNcricinfo staff

Man of the Match

2007
85 v Kenya, St Lucia

• 128 v Sri Lanka, Napier, 2006
  • Stamped his international class in only his third ODI, when he made a powerful and unbeaten 128 in Napier against Sri Lanka
    
• 95 v India, Dambulla, 2010
  • Taylor's 95 in the memorable 200-run win over India in Dambulla in August was a positive World Cup omen, given the opposition and the venue