Ross Taylor isn't about to join the guessing game as to whether he or Brendon McCullum will be named Black Caps captain.
Rather, the former Wairarapa College pupil will wait until the outcome of a review he and McCullum will have with New Zealand Cricket-appointed personnel in Christchurch this Friday before
making any comment.
"We'll just wait and see what happens, I don't want to say anything more than that," Taylor said yesterday while in Masterton visiting with family and friends.
As the regular stand-in skipper over the past 12 months in Daniel Vettori's absence, Taylor has gained a valuable insight into what the position entails but he is quick to add that standing in for someone else is different to having the role on a permanent basis.
"Being a stand-in doesn't have the same pressures - there are a lot of extra responsibilities for whoever has the job fulltime," he said.
Cricket history is chock full of players whose form has been adversely affected when they have been promoted to captain but statistics show that top order batsman Taylor has responded positively to the dual challenge.
"Yes, I've been pleased with the way things have gone for me in that respect, in fact I've probably batted better when captain," he said.
Even when skipper Taylor has continued to adopt the positive stance which has been a hallmark of his batting - and that is not about to change.
"I guess there are always going to be people who see me more as a slogger than anything else but in reality it comes down to backing yourself to play the shots which suit the situation; you have to adapt to what is needed to keep your team in the game."
Taylor says he prefers test match cricket to the Twenty20 or one-day games.
"Again it comes down to being able to adapt. As a professional you have a job to do and you go out there and do it."
So intense is the programme confronting the world's top players - of whom Taylor is one - that finding time to rest has become an increasing problem and Taylor is looking forward to a self-imposed three-month break, which meant turning down offers to play in England and Sri Lanka.
He does, however, have another major appointment in Taupo on Saturday week when he will marry Victoria Brown, a former member of the Northern Spirit women's cricket squad.
