Former New Zealand cricket legend Ross Taylor is set to come out of retirement at the age of 41 to represent Samoa in the final regional qualifying tournament for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Taylor, whose mother hails from Samoa, will line up for the Pacific nation at the Asia–East Asia-Pacific regional finals in Oman, scheduled from 8 to 17 October.
The ex-Black Caps captain originally called time on his international career in 2022 after a glittering 16-year spell in which he made 450 appearances across all formats, including 112 Tests. He remains New Zealand’s second-highest run-scorer of all time, behind only Kane Williamson.
Confirming the news on Instagram, Taylor wrote:
“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 the 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.”
Samoa, ranked 70th in the ICC T20 standings, have been an Associate member of the ICC since 2017. They will compete against Papua New Guinea, Japan, hosts Oman, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE for three qualifying spots at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
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