Former New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor has officially come out of retirement to play for Samoa, marking a new chapter in his storied career.
The batting legend announced the news on social media, confirming his inclusion in Samoa’s squad for the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier scheduled in Oman from October 8.
The nine-team qualifier will feature Samoa in Group C alongside hosts Oman and Papua New Guinea (PNG). The top two teams from each group will move forward to the Super Six stage, keeping hopes alive for a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Taylor’s emotional announcement
In a heartfelt message on Instagram, Taylor shared:
“It’s official – I’m proud to announce that I’ll be pulling on the blue and representing Samoa in cricket. This is more than just a return to the game I love – it’s a huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages, and family. I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the game, join the squad, and share my experience on and off the field.”
Taylor qualifies to represent Samoa through his mother’s heritage and holds a Samoan passport. Having completed the ICC-mandated three-year cooling-off period, he is now eligible to play for a new team. The 41-year-old last represented New Zealand in 2022, before announcing his retirement.
Between 2006 and 2022, Taylor built a remarkable career, playing 112 Tests, 236 ODIs, and 102 T20Is. He remains New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs with 8,607 runs, and is second overall in the format only to Kane Williamson. Widely regarded as one of the Blackcaps’ finest, his return is expected to bring invaluable experience and depth to Samoa’s lineup.
Other key names in Samoa squad
Taylor will be joined by Sean Solia, who has extensive domestic cricket experience with Auckland, and Darius Visser, known for his power-hitting — including a stunning feat last year where he smashed six sixes in a 39-run over against Vanuatu. Together, the trio is expected to add significant firepower to Samoa’s batting order.
