27 Dec 2017

Taylor playing a young man's game

8:41 am on 27 December 2017

The New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is quick to remind his team-mates that he's not as old as they may think.

Ross Taylor celebrates his 17th test century.

Ross Taylor celebrates his 17th test century. Photo: Photosport

Taylor helped the Black Caps to an ODI series sweep of the West Indies in Christchurch yesterday.

His unbeaten 47 set up a target that was too much for the Windies, who were beaten by 66 runs.

Taylor averaged 153 against the Windies and this year scored 968 ODI runs at an average of 60 with two centuries.

"I've been working hard over the last couple of months and it's been nice for that work to pay off."

"I'm only 33, but my team-mates think I'm 38 so it's nice to prove them wrong... there's a lot of white ball cricket to be played over the next couple of months so hopefully I can stay fit and continue it on for the rest of the season."

Earlier in the tour Taylor brought up his 17th Test century.

He says there isn't one thing that has contributed to his form with the bat.

"I talk to a lot of people, I've been working closely with Pete Sanford, the mental skills coach for New Zealand Cricket, and he's been great, as you get older you don't sweat the small stuff and I'm pretty relaxed at the moment."

"You never get too carried away, you're only a couple of bad scores away from losing the confidence."

The first of three T20's against the West Indies is in Nelson on Friday.