2 Mar 2018

Williamson in, Taylor out for third ODI

5:28 pm on 2 March 2018

Veteran batsman Ross Taylor has been ruled out of the New Zealand cricket team for Saturday's third One Day International against England in Wellington.

New Zealand's Ross Taylor.

New Zealand's Ross Taylor. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The series is locked 1-1 heading into the Westpac Stadium game following England's easy six-wicket win in game two at Mount Maunganui.

Taylor damaged a quad muscle in Mount Maunganui when he was one of four Black Caps batsmen dismissed by run out and didn't field during England's chase.

Coach Mike Hesson said Taylor failed to pass a fitness test for the Wellington game and will be reassessed for the fourth ODI in Dunedin.

However captain Kane Williamson, who sat out the Mount Maunganui game with a hamstrung injury, has been cleared to play in Wellington.

While Williamson is going through a lean patch, veteran Taylor has largely shone throughout the summer for New Zealand.

His century proved the difference in the opening win over England in Hamilton.

Stand-in Black Caps skipper Tim Southee said regardless of who plays, the Black Caps need a significant improvement.

"We scrapped through to something we could bowl at but it's never easy when you hand the opposition four run outs," he said.

-AAP