When Devon Conway became eligible to play for New Zealand in August 2020, it would create a selection headache for the Blackcaps selectors.
The South African-born batsman had been churning out the runs for Wellington over the past few seasons, with Conway’s ineligibility robbing him of an international cap in the past for New Zealand.
With Ross Taylor reaching the final years of his international career, questions are being raised as to whether Conway has permanently taken Taylor’s T20 spot in the New Zealand team.
Having moved to New Zealand in August 2017, Conway has impressed at domestic level for Wellington. Here are Conway’s numbers from the Super Smash (New Zealand’s premier T20 competition) over the past few seasons
2017-18 Super Smash – six innings, 165 runs, 117 balls faced, 41.25 average, 141.02 strike rate, zero hundreds, one fifty
2018-19 Super Smash – nine innings, 363 runs, 252 balls faced, 45.37 average, 144.04 strike rate, one hundred, zero fifties
2019-20 Super Smash – 11 innings, 543 runs, 374 balls faced, 145.18 strike rate, 67.87 average, one hundred, five fifties
In the past two seasons of the Super Smash, Conway has been the leading run scorer in the tournament. With a compact technique, Conway is an accumulator, but he’s also shown in the shortest format that he can score at a fast pace.
Following his stellar past few seasons for Wellington, Conway made his T20 debut for New Zealand against the West Indies in November 2020. Chasing 176 in a 16 over game at Eden Park, Conway scored a composed 41 off 29 – allowing Jimmy Neesham to tee off as the Blackcaps won in the final over.
Conway’s performances haven’t been a one-off in T20 internationals so far. In four innings, Conway has scored 174 runs with two fifties, a strike rate of 151.3 and an average of 58.
While it is a very small sample size, Conway has shown that he can be New Zealand’s long term no.4 in T20 internationals, which was needed for the Blackcaps with two consecutive T20 World Cups in the next two years.
Ross Taylor is a champion player, one of the greatest batsmen New Zealand have produced. But it seems his time in T20 internationals is up.
As he hasn’t played in the Super Smash due to international duty, here are Ross Taylor’s T20I numbers since the beginning of 2017.
2017 – one innings, 20 runs, 13 balls faced, 20.0 average, 153.85 strike rate
2018 – ten innings, 191 runs, 151 balls faced, 38.2 average, 126.49 strike rate, zero hundreds, zero fifties
2019 – 11 innings, 276 runs, 220 balls faced, 27.6 average, 125.45 strike rate, zero hundreds, zero fifties
2020 – seven innings, 166 runs, 130 balls faced, 33.2 average, 127.69 average, two fifties
In the past four years, Ross Taylor and Devon Conway have scored the same number of T20I fifties, despite Taylor playing 25 innings more than Conway. Add to the fact that Taylor was dropped from New Zealand’s T20 squad versus Pakistan and it seems that the writing is on the wall for Taylor in T20Is.
Another plus point is that Conway can keep and with Colin Munro likely to take Tim Seifert’s spot, Conway could emerge as New Zealand’s T20 keeper unless someone like Glenn Phillips will be in the New Zealand XI.
For years, there were worries on how New Zealand would move on from players such as Ross Taylor and the match winning abilities he brings.
But the Blackcaps have found a capable replacement in Devon Conway in the T20 team. With the way Conway has been scoring runs at List A and first class level, it won’t be long before he permanently replaces Ross Taylor in all formats.
Paul
Guest
You have to remember Taylor has mostly batted at #5.for NZ. This position in the NZ team is actually a babysitting postion where Taylor, in the case of losing early wickets,controls the innings turning over the strike but with the power to finish if required with big shots. Look no further on how he took NZ close against India last season. Taylor forgave his bashing ways for NZ, which must have personally cost him many big contracts around the world over the years and also a much higher strike rate. He was one of the worlds great 20/20 batsmen early on before NZC dropped him down the order . Personally I would still have him in the top 3.for the upcoming WC.
Reddy
Roar Rookie
Colin Munro/Tim Seifert, Ross Taylor/Devon Conway, Martin Guptill/Glenn Phillips. New Zealand is starting to build some t20 batting depth.
Paul
Roar Guru
that may well be the case but at present, you're comparing apples and buses when you look at NZ domestic T20 form versus international form. Unless Taylor pulls the pin, the NZ brains trust would be crazy not to take both to next years WC in India and see how they both go.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Taylor's form in T20 internationals has been poor for quite some time. I genuinely cannot remember the last time he played a crucial part for NZ winning a T20 international. He got dropped vs Pakistan on form - wasn't rested. If Taylor misses out on the 5 match T20 series vs Australia in February, that'll probably show his time in t20 internationals is up, especially if Conway does well against the Aussies. Taylor is 36 and he wants to be playing in Tests and ODI's for a few more years. Conway is 30 and is the best bat in NZ domestic cricket. He's gotta be a regular in one format and for me right now - that's t20s
Nick
Roar Guru
There needs to be a South Africa exile XI. It would be absolutely dominant. Conway, Labu, Watling, Wagner, Roy... needs a spinner. But you've got the bones of a friggen good team there. Opener, middle order, keeper, excellent pace bowler...
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Conway has been bossing every format in NZ domestic cricket over the past two seasons. Taylor wasn't rested vs Pakistan in the T20s, he was dropped as selector Gavin Larsen said to the media. Taylor has been batting at five for the past few years in T20 internationals, but has struggled to accelerate when required. If Taylor isn't recalled vs Australia and Conway does well in the 5 match t20 series, that's Taylor's T20I career done. Add to the fact that he still wants to play Tests and ODI's till 2023 WC (he'll be 39 by then), it's highly unlikely Taylor will be playing in all three formats by end of next year.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Exactly. Nicholls keeps his spot in the Test side after that 100 vs Windies. If Taylor has a poor series vs Pakistan, jury could be out on him in Tests as well. But Conway has to be playing all formats soon. He's too good to be ignored for any format
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Conway has to play in the ODI's vs Bangladesh. Home conditions against an ODI side that struggles on NZ decks - perfect way to get the confidence up in ODI cricket. Bit surprised he wasn't opening for Wellington in Plunkett Shield or else he would've opened vs Windies in Hamilton over Will Young imo.
Paul
Roar Guru
So let me see if I have this right? Ross Taylor will lose his place because a guy who's been doing well in a New Zealand domestic T20 comp and 4 innings against the West Indies & Pakistan in covid conditions, is better than a guy who, during the same period, has played against India, Australia, England, Sri Lanka & Pakistan? Sure you haven't been at the Christmas eggnog a tad early, Arnab? :happy: I'll guarantee if you asked any of the really good internationalT20 bowlers who they'd rather bowl at between these two, they'd take Conway for sure. Taylor is a proven competitor in this form of the game and his form suggests he's still up there with the best. That's not to say Conway might not reach or surpass Taylor's deeds, but right now, he's not going to finish Taylor's career, any time soon.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Devon Conway is 9 from 9 in NZ. He has been the leading run scorer in every single competition he’s played in since he moved to NZ. Plunkett, ODD, T20, he just keeps churning out the runs. His selection has been inevitable. Hyperbole yes, but he might just be AB reincarnated. The biggest problem is how he can fit into NZ’s extraordinarily strong middle order in test cricket. Tough decisions will need to be made, but the sooner they get him in the better. On a lighter note, if more South Africans locked out by the quota system make the move to NZ we may just have to rename the Black Caps to South Africa A and append B to South Africa in a decade
DingoGray
Roar Guru
He's been a fantastic servant for the Black Caps. I'm glad he's still making himself available for Test Cricket. A wonderful player. Little bit less on the International Calendar won't hurt him
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Taylor has expressed a desire to continue for the Black Caps and while he is scoring he will be retained. Not only does his absence from T20s give Conway an internatoinal window but it allows Ross some longevity around Test and ODI cricket. Conway will still find a way into those formats; he's too good not to. Watling will surrender the Test gloves to Blundell at some point in the near future. Nicolls still has a question mark over him IMO too. young and Conway will likely take those spots. Guptill has been short on runs in ODIs. I can see Conway getting a gig there too. But neither will be this season unless injury intervenes. A shame in some respects as Conway has the technique and temperament to be a long-term asset to the Black Caps.