To leave something better than you found it is the mark of a fabulous human and as Luteru Taylor bows out of international cricket, Aotearoa cricket is shining like an early Autumn sunrise. Aotearoa wrapped up their ODI series against Netherlands with another emphatic victory to escort Taylor out of international cricket on his throne, showcasing the most depth and quality Aotearoa cricket has ever enjoyed.

Aotearoa hasn't been playing much ODI cricket since the World Cup in England. The pandemic played its part in rubbing out various fixtures, then Aotearoa opted out of their tour to Pakistan last year. Since the start of 2020, Aotearoa has gone 9-1 in 10 ODIs.

This hasn't been the hardest pocket of ODI cricket as their only game outside Aotearoa was the loss in Australia before the pandemic cycle started. Three wins over India, then three wins over Bangladesh and three more wins over Netherlands. Weaker opponents and a home advantage that Aotearoa Warriors and Wellington Phoenix would love, combine for a weird but lovely patch of ODI cricket for Aotearoa.

Taylor played most of those games, missing just two ODIs vs Bangladesh. Scores of 109* and 73* against India at the start of 2020 were his last major knocks in ODI cricket. Taylor's last Test century came in 2019, a year in which he scored 607 runs @ 55.18avg. Taylor churned out steady knocks in his remaining Tests but even the heartiest Taylor fans are aware that Taylor's last stanza of international cricket saw a decline in run-scoring mahi.

February 5th, 2020 saw Taylor hit his final international century. That was Taylor's last tongue-wagging moment and then came the pandemic. Now we are here in 2022 and that cycle has come to an end. I don't know what emotions were on display from Taylor, his aiga and kiwi cricket fans in these farewell moments. Sadness doesn't feel present here though.

Sadness isn't present in the emerging phase, after whatever that pandemic was. Sadness isn't present when a bloke leaves Aotearoa cricket far better off for his presence. Sure, we are sad that Taylor won't be playing for Aotearoa anymore but gratitude is far more powerful. Excitement that everything Taylor laid out for Aotearoa cricket is now on display in the roots of this Blackcaps group.

During this cycle, Taylor was one of six different Blackcaps to hit ODI centuries in 10 games. Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Will Young, Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell popped up with ODI centuries. Seven different bowlers took more than 5 wickets in these 10 games; Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett, Colin de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner.

Forget the nitty-gritty about weaker opponents and games only in Aotearoa. Kane Williamson doesn’t feature in that group above, neither do Trent Boult or Tim Southee. They are three of Aotearoa's greatest cricketers ever and they haven't done much in this wee pocket of Aotearoa cricket. Lockie Ferguson is a 1st 11 white-baller and he has played one game in this period.

Growing up, none of this felt possible. Then this Taylor chap made waves in Aotearoa cricket and the whole vibe changed. Now Aotearoa can ship lads off to India for their cricket, while rolling out a certified Blackcaps ODI team in Aotearoa at the same time. Much of which is via coincidence and Taylor is not solely responsible for more wins or more depth.

Timing is also a coincidence. The way these cycles align is a coincidence. None stand out more than the journeys of Taylor and Will Young. Young burst on to my radar around the 2012 Under 19 World Cup and many would have known Young to be the funkiest batting prodigy in Aotearoa prior to that U19 World Cup. Young would then become the undisputed prodigy as he wiggled through domestic cricket, often plugging the hole left by Taylor in Central Stags' batting line up.

Big ups to all the slow cookers out there because Young's been brewing since his First-Class debut in 2012. Ben Smith is the only bloke from that Central team for Young's debut who is still on the domestic circuit. That debut came against Auckland and with Anaru Kitchen now retired, plus Colin Munro venturing into the T20 realms; Jeet Raval joins Smith is the only other lads still playing domestic cricket from Young's debut.

There were 'what's taking Young so long?' moments over the last decade. Before Devon Conway even became a nerdy kiwi cricket wrinkle, most viewed Young as the next best batter and someone destined to take over from Taylor. Young never waivered in his mahi, doing whatever his Central team required and here we have the lesson of trusting your mahi to link up with coincidental timing.

Young hit two centuries vs Netherlands. Young has five scores over 50 in 14inns of Test cricket. Young has even dabbled in T20I cricket with one 50+ score in eight games. Watching Young bat for Aotearoa makes it easy to see why he was a prodigal talent in domestic cricket. For such a talent that always seem destined for this level of cricket, Young still appears to have grown into his role as an international batter during this cycle.

Years of domestic cricket saw Young elevate his mana. Taylor's mana is evident in how Aotearoa cricket is well poised to push forward. In the rise of Young we have the best example of how Taylor leaves Aotearoa cricket in a better spot than he found it. While there is so much folks can learn from all of this, perhaps the most notable thing to tap into is how everything works out when zoning in on being your best.

That cycle is now over. Now is the time to let go. That's all much easier to do when understanding that like Taylor leaving Aotearoa cricket in its most glorious form, folks can move forward knowing they have grown grit and elevated their mana in the strangest of times. Onwards and upwards.

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Peace and love.