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Ross Taylor felt like he was playing his 100th test again when he hit at the Boxing Day Test at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, and he continued to produce his best innings since the 44 he made on that occasion in March, four games ago.
This time, the milestone that was applauded was his 438th appearance with the Black Caps in all three formats, a departure that puts him one ahead of his former teammate Daniel Vettori on the all-time list.
It’s a somewhat obscure accomplishment, considering both red ball and white ball cricket, but after scoring 70 to help the Black Caps to 222-3 on the stumps on the first day of Saturday, Taylor said he felt special.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Black Cap Ross Taylor raises his bat to acknowledge the crowd after passing 50 on the first day of Test 1 against Pakistan.
“Every time you represent your country is a special moment.
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“To represent them 400 times and set the record is not what I play for, but it’s good to have done it.
“It was a special occasion. I got some nice words from BJ [Watling] and the team this morning and it felt kind of like my 100th test, going out to bat today with a standing ovation.
“I don’t know what the ground announcer said, but he should have told the crowd, because I’m sure they wouldn’t have known.”
Taylor came out to join Kane Williamson in the middle with his side reeling at 13-2 in the 11th plus, after Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to have a bowl on a field that was less green. than most of those produced for recent tests in New Zealand.
The events unfolded at a snail’s pace for the next two hours and in the mid-session drinks, the Black Caps had scored just 74 runs in 40 overs.
In the 14 that followed before tea, they added another 54, with Taylor improving on his half century, the first time he went past 50 in 11 innings, then Yasir Shah, who swept the legs, with six and four consecutive deliveries.
He eventually fell off in the third over of the final session, gaining a full-body ball lead from left arm closer Shaheen Shah Afridi that he couldn’t do much for.
“It was tough at first,” Taylor said afterward, “but that’s to be expected on a first day.”
“It’s definitely flattened, and probably has a bit of a double beat at times. It will be interesting, I’m sure it will only get a bit more bumpy in the next few days.
“The way Kane and I got through it was nice and enjoyable, but you have to give it to Shaheen (who won 3-55). I think he threw an exceptionally good bowling alley, and Mohammad Abbas (who conceded just 25 runs in 21 overs) didn’t give us much either. “
After establishing a 120-race partnership with Taylor, Williamson continued to the stumps, where he was not out of 94, along with Henry Nicholls, who was at 42, although both gave Pakistan opportunities that could have changed Tourists’ day. .
Of Williamson, Taylor said, “I thought he hit fantastically well, and we need him and Henry Nicholls to move on and pass the new ball.” [on Sunday] and keep them there as long as possible. “
Taylor’s return to blank form came a fortnight after he was left from the Black Caps’ Twenty20 team to play Pakistan.
Speaking about his omission for the first time, he said he was “obviously disappointed” not to be with the team as they completed a 2-1 series win, but revealed that he joined them to train at Hamilton last Saturday.
“I still feel like I have something to give to the Twenty20 team, but here we are in a test match, and I hope I can contribute to the team’s victory.”
The game starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, although showers (and possibly thunderstorms) are forecast for the afternoon.
