Cricket-Former NZ captain Taylor to play for Samoa in shock comeback

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC World Test Championship Final - India v New Zealand - Rose Bowl, Southampton, Britain - June 22, 2021 New Zealand's Ross Taylor in action Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley/File photo

(Reuters) -Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor is coming out of retirement to represent Samoa, the country of his mother's birth, in a boost to the Pacific Island nation's hopes of qualifying for next year's Twenty20 World Cup.

The 41-year-old, who scored more than 18,000 runs from 450 matches for New Zealand before ending his international career in April 2022, said on Friday he was excited to be able to give back to the game.