New Zealand cannot afford to alienate Taylor

Vic Marks, in the Observer, says New Zealand need their best team available to take on England in their next series but things aren't really looking up.

New Zealand are easily outgunned by England in terms of resources and depth of talent. Moreover they have squandered some of their assets recently. Following England's lead they contrived to have their best player watching from the sidelines for a while this winter. Ross Taylor is New Zealand's best batsman; he may end up as one of their best ever but he was not in South Africa - and he had not even sent anyone a dodgy text. Taylor's absence stemmed from a more conventional cock-up - much bungling over captaincy issues, which understandably alienated him.