WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricket legend Ross Taylor has announced his return to international cricket, nearly four years after hanging up his boots, this time to play for Samoa in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The 41-year-old former Blackcaps captain confirmed the news on Friday, calling it a “huge honour” to represent the country of his mother’s birth.

“It’s official – I’m proud to announce that I’ll be pulling on the blue and representing Samoa in cricket,” Taylor wrote on social media.

“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.”

Taylor, who retired from New Zealand cricket in 2022 after a decorated career spanning over 16 years, is set to bolster Samoa’s chances in the Asia–East Asia–Pacific qualifiers, where the team will be vying for a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka.

The veteran batter is New Zealand’s all-time leading run-scorer across formats and brings a wealth of experience to the Samoan side, which will benefit from his leadership and batting depth.

Cricket Samoa welcomed the move, hailing Taylor’s decision as a massive boost for the nation’s cricketing ambitions.