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Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor will carry an unwelcome distraction into Tuesday's Champions Trophy final against Australia given his concerns for family affected by the Samoan tsunami.
Taylor, whose mother is Samoan, has relatives still living in the Pacific nation, which felt the full brunt of last week's tsunami.
Taylor wore a black armband in Sunday's semi-final against Pakistan in tribute to the victims.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said the 25-year-old had been deeply affected by the disaster which has so far claimed more than 170 lives.
"He's got a lot of family back in Samoa," Vettori said.
"While I don't think he's had any tragedies - they've had to move to higher ground and get away from it - it's affected him quite deeply and we're always trying to support him and support whatever goes on over there."
Taylor is not the only high-profile sportsman to have endured his share of worries in the past week.
Sunday's NRL grand final featured five players - Joe Galuvao, Fuifui Moimoi, Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo of Parramatta and Melbourne Storm's Jeff Lima - who all turned their thoughts to the land of their ancestry before the game.
