Taylor ‘one of the greats’ – Hesson
Ross Taylor deserves to be labelled one of cricket’s batting greats, coach Mike Hesson says.
Taylor and his New Zealand team-mates landed in Wellington for Saturday’s game three with a spring in their collective steps, after a pulsating six-run win over South Africa in Christchurch levelled the one-day international series 1-1, with three to play.
New Zealand’s No 4 raised his 17th ODI century with his man-ofthe-match knock of 102 not out off 110 balls. It moved him one clear of Nathan Astle’s record haul of 16, having also reached 6000 runs in his 166th innings, the fewest of any New Zealand batsman and the 15th fastest of all time, alongside Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni.
On a world stage he joined a select group of Ponting, Herschelle Gibbs, Sachin Tendulkar, Hashim Amla and Virat Kohli as those to score ODI centuries against every other test-playing nation, as Tay- lor notched his first ton in his ninth innings against South Africa.
Asked if Taylor got due recognition for his batting feats, Hesson said: ‘‘He’s always talked about as one of the greats. His record suggests he should be seen in that light.’’
Taylor had made clear his displeasure at being unwanted for the one-off Twenty20 international against South Africa, which followed his benching in the three T20s against Bangladesh. Hesson played a straight bat to a question about whether Taylor had a point to prove, after missing out on the shortest format where the Black Caps don’t have another scheduled international till December, when they took the chance to blood younger batsmen like Tom Bruce.
‘‘Ross is one of the very first picked in one-day cricket. Yesterday was another example of how good he is in one-day cricket. The next 12 months we’ve got loads of one-day cricket and that’s pretty much our priority,’’ Hesson said.
The team celebrated their win and Taylor’s milestone in the Hagley Oval dressing room after they successfully defended 289-4. ‘‘Ross doesn’t say a huge amount. Just really pleased for him and the whole group were just delighted that he’s ticked another box in terms of one-day records.’’
Taylor, who averages 43.85 from 180 ODIs, can extend that record further in the final three matches in Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland as the hosts chase a coveted series victory over the world’s topranked side.
Then it’s to Dunedin on March 8 for the first of three tests, as Taylor sets his sights on equalling his late mentor Martin Crowe’s test century record of 17.
‘‘A test hundred against South Africa is certainly something that Ross is aware of that he’d love to get. We’ve also got to celebrate how good he was yesterday; he was exceptional and part of a really good batting performance.’’
Hesson labelled the batting effort ‘‘clinical’’ after New Zealand lost the toss and were sent in on a soft pitch.
The other standout for the coach was the way his team closed the match out, with Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult and Tim Southee all bowling cool-headed overs at the death as South Africa roared back.