‘Ross the Boss' desperate to play decider against Eng

Injured Black Cap Ross Taylor said on Thursday he was desperate to play in the one-day series decider against England, as pundits declared his unbeaten 181 the greatest ever limited-overs innings by a Kiwi batsman.

Taylor overcame cramps and a severe thigh strain to bludgeon New Zealand to victory with a career-best performance in the fourth ODI match in Hamilton on Thursday.

Grimacing with pain after every shot and limping between the wickets, he levelled the series 2-2 to set up a winner-takes-all clash in Christchurch on Saturday.

Coach Mike Hesson was reluctant to risk Taylor in the crunch match if there was risk of long-term injury, and has called in rookie Mark Chapman as cover.

"We need to know the extent of it and whether it's one of those injuries that can get worse, or whether you can grin and bear it, we're just not sure yet," Hesson told reporters.

Taylor said he was keen to play and would be icing his injured thigh and resting with the intention of taking the field even if he was not fully fit.

"I'm hoping to," he told Radio Sport.

“Obviously I won't be 100 (percent) but we'll just see how it pulls up in the next couple of days and give it the best chance possible."

Taylor hurt his thigh earlier in the series then aggravated it diving to avoid a run out as New Zealand chased England's challenging target of 336.

The 34-year-old's 181 not out was his 19th One Day International century and the third highest score by a New Zealand player in the 50-over format.