'Disappointed to be out of the T20 side' - Taylor

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has expressed disappointment at being left out of the T20 matches against Bangladesh at the start of the year. In their first T20 campaign since the 2016 World T20, New Zealand tried newcomer Tom Bruce and Corey Anderson at No. 4, Taylor's usual batting position, where both batsmen were among the runs.

"I was disappointed to be out of the T20 side," Taylor said. "I love playing all formats for my country and to get the call on Boxing Day was disappointing. You've got to respect the selectors' decision. To answer it back with two 80s [in the Super Smash] was nice but at the same time it is nice to be back in Test cricket."

New Zealand Cricket also didn't allow Taylor to play in the Big Bash League this season due to their play-travel rule, after he had applied to play for the Melbourne Renegades. Taylor said that while New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was happy to let him go to Australia, NZC CEO David White didn't allow him.

"It would have been nice to play in front of 70-odd thousand in the Melbourne derby but New Zealand Cricket have got their protocols on play-travel and you've got to respect that.

"Hess was all for me going but David [White] had other reasons," Taylor said. "He didn't want me to go with the play-travel rule, and he didn't think it was a good idea with such a big summer ahead. I had a chat with him. He had his reasons. As it worked out I probably wouldn't have played anyway, with the side strain [which he picked up during the Super Smash and from which he has fully recovered now]. It is what it is."

Taylor, though, now wants to move past these two selection decisions as he prepares for his first international match since undergoing eye surgery.

"I think my peripheral vision feels a little better," he said. "I went around to my manager's house and asked her if she bought a new fridge. She looked at me pretty strangely and said it has been around for the last 4-5 years. I don't know if it is a good or a bad thing.

"At the moment I'm just enjoying being back in the Test team and can hopefully score some runs and give a bit back to the youngsters and help Kane [Williamson] out along the way."