New Zealand great Ross Taylor comes out of retirement to play for Samoa at T20 World Cup regional qualifiers

Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor has come out of international retirement to represent Samoa at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier.

Taylor, who retired from international cricket in 2022 after a decorated career for the Black Caps across all three formats, qualifies to play for Samoa through his mother's heritage. He was named in the Samoa squad for the qualifying tournament and takes his place alongside a group of players pushing to lift the national programme onto the world stage.

One of the finest batters of his generation, Taylor brings more than 18,000 international runs of experience into a young Samoan dressing room, and his presence is expected to accelerate the development of the country's next wave of cricketers as much as it strengthens the top order.

For Samoa Cricket, Taylor's decision is a landmark moment — a genuine world-class name pulling on the blue shirt and signalling that Samoa is serious about competing with the leading Associate nations in the region.