The cricket world got a surprise when Ross Taylor, one of New Zealand’s greatest batters, announced his return.
At 41 years of age, Taylor is coming out of retirement but not for the Blackcaps. Instead, he will now play for Samoa, the country of his mother’s heritage, as they aim to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
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Taylor last played for New Zealand in 202 and featured in over 400 international matches. Now, three years later, he becomes eligible under ICC rules to represent an Associate nation.
With this, Taylor will join a rare group of players who have turned out for two different countries in international cricket. Let's take a look at the list of New Zealand cricketers who represented two countries.
Why is Ross Taylor allowed to play for Samoa now?
According to ICC’s eligibility rules, a player switching from a Full Member country to an Associate country needs to serve a three-year gap from their last international appearance.
Taylor played his final match for New Zealand in January 2022, which makes him eligible in 2025.
His comeback will begin at the Asia-East Pacific Qualifier where Samoa will take on Oman on October 8, followed by Papua New Guinea on October 9.
List of New Zealand cricketers who represented two countries
Taylor is not the first Kiwi to make such a switch. Several others have represented both New Zealand and another nation in international cricket.
Some moved from Associates to New Zealand, while others went the opposite way later in their careers.
Here is a complete list of New Zealand cricketers who featured for two international teams:
| Player | Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sammy Guillen | West Indies 1951-52 | New Zealand 1956 |
| Luke Ronchi | Australia 2008-09 | New Zealand 2013-17 |
| Michael Rippon | Netherlands 2013-22 | New Zealand 2022 |
| Corey Anderson | New Zealand 2012-18 | USA 2024 |
| Mark Chapman | Hong Kong 2014-16 | New Zealand 2018-Present |
| Tom Bruce | New Zealand 2017-20 | Scotland 2025 |
| Ross Taylor | New Zealand 2006-22 | Samoa 2025 |
MORE: Asia Cup 2025: Complete schedule, dates, venues and teams
Names like Luke Ronchi and Mark Chapman are well known for their switch. Ronchi became famous as the first man in two decades to represent two Full Member nations.
Chapman went from Hong Kong to New Zealand and is now a regular in their T20 setup. Corey Anderson, meanwhile, made headlines when he moved to USA cricket in 2024.