Taylor was ready to bat with broken hand

Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, has said he would have come out to bat despite a broken arm to help save the third Test against South Africa in Wellington. Taylor had to retire hurt on the fourth day after he was hit by a short ball from Morne Morkel and had surgery on the fifth. He was not needed in the end, as New Zealand hung on for a draw at Basin Reserve six wickets down.

"I was hoping not to [bat],'' Taylor said a day after the Test. "I was back at the hotel with about 10 overs to go and then I got the phone call to ask whether I could bat. I thought you don't often get to save a Test match, so I drove down. In the Wellington traffic it took me about five overs to get there, but the boys were looking pretty solid so I didn't have to don the whites.''

New Zealand, who needed to survive 81 overs, were in trouble when they lost half their side in 36 overs. However, Kane Williamson's rearguard century and his partnerships with Kruger van Wyk and Doug Bracewell salvaged a draw for the hosts. South Africa won the three-Test series 1-0.

"It was disappointing to get injured when I did. I would have liked to have helped the team get a draw but, at the end of the day, we got there in the end," Taylor said. "I thought Kane Williamson, especially, batted outstandingly well. But I think Doug Bracewell has to take some credit there, too. Two 21-year-olds batting and were very mature for their age.''

The injury means Taylor will not be available when his IPL team, Delhi Daredevils, start their campaign on April 5. However, his recovery is expected to take about four weeks, and Taylor did not rule out his participation in the later stages of the tournament.

"We'll just see what the medical staff say,'' he said. "I've always listened to them and when they say I'm ready, I'm ready. I won't be going against their word."

It has been reported that Delhi Daredevils, who bought Taylor from Rajasthan Royals in February, will not seek a replacement yet.