Rising

Ross Taylor is relishing another opportunity to establish himself as a Test-class batsman for New Zealand in the forthcoming series against England.

The talented 24-year-old has long been regarded as one of his country's best prospects and has developed into a competent performer at one-day international level, averaging 35 from his 38 matches.

But he failed to take his opportunity in the Test arena, scoring only 44 runs in four innings against South Africa in November and was dropped for last month's home series against Bangladesh.

Recalled for the first Test against England at Seddon Park on Wednesday however, Taylor is eager to make amends for his disappointing start and build on his promising displays during the recent one-day series triumph when he averaged 72.

"I'm very happy," he said.

"I had a taste of it in South Africa and I didn't do as well as I would have liked so to have a recall against England, I'm very happy about it.

"There was probably a month or so after that tour when I was down in confidence and wondering what I could have done better on that tour. I was young and inexperienced and I still am, but hopefully I can learn from those two digs and do a lot better."

Recalled largely on the back of his one-day displays, when he adopted a more measured approach than in the past, Taylor is due to bat at number five with a responsibility to help New Zealand post competitive targets.

"There's a desire to get out there and win the Test series, we'd like to take momentum over to England," he added.

"You have to score 400, 450 to be competitive and obviously to do that people have to stand up and score big totals.

"I was very happy with the way I played in the one-day games. I took my time a lot more than I have been in the past. I don't think I'll change the way I play but if I can, I will take my time early on in the innings.

"To establish myself I need to score runs, that's the biggest thing. A lot of people can tell you what to do but it's up to yourself individually to go out there and score runs and once you get a score you take confidence from that."

At least he can enter this week's opening Test having had a look at England's attack after facing James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom in the one-day series, while he batted briefly against Steve Harmison in the drawn match for the Select XI against the tourists in Dunedin this week.

"They're a very experienced side but we've come off a strong one-day campaign and hopefully we can continue that momentum through to the Test match series," he said.

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