Ross Taylor's 12-year international career has seen him become the first man in history to play 100 or more games in all formats. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
Even before a ball was bowled in the Basin Reserve Test between India and New Zealand, Ross Taylor had created history. The 34-year-old became the first cricketer in history to play 100 matches in all three formats of the game. To mark the occasion, Taylor walked out for the New Zealand national anthem with his two kids Mackenzie Taylor and Jonty Taylor. There was no sign of his third kid, Adelaide Taylor. The moment was poignant and it was captured beautifully. Ross Taylor is the leading run-getter in both ODIs and Tests with 8570 runs and 7174 runs respectively. Taylor is the leading century-hitter in ODIs while he is second behind current skipper Kane Williamson.
"Really excited about the occasion. It's very nice for the team and the family to experience something they might never do again. I'll need some help drinking (the hundred bottles of wine), but they can be stored for a while. It keeps the tradition from Fleming, Brendon (McCullum) and Dan (Daniel Vettori) who all played over a hundred Tests each and hopefully we can celebrate this one with a win," Taylor said. Ross Taylor became the fourth New Zealand player after Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori to play 100 Tests and he made an impact on the field as he took the catch of Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli for 2.
During the Bay Oval Twenty20 International against India, he played 100 T20I games. Speaking ahead of the first Test, Taylor reflected on his career and he said he had learned to live with imperfections throughout his career. "No one has a perfect career and you fail at some stage especially as a batter. Mistakes and scenarios make you grow as a person. Test cricket and cricket in general as a batter, you go through a lot of ups and downs and that's definitely what I have been through, and as a team as well. But Wellington holds a special place in my heart and I am sure having a lot of family and friends there will be something that I will be proud of and look back on at the end of my career with fond memories," Taylor said.
Ross Taylor is the leading run-getter in Tests and ODIs for New Zealand. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Taylor has enjoyed a career in which he has travelled all over the globe, firstly as a Twenty20 specialist before maturing into one of the pillars of New Zealand cricket. The right-hander thanked his family for the support that they gave him in his career.
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"It is not easy on my wife Victoria to raise three kids for as long as she has. We play a lot but that's probably why when you do play at home, it's nice to be a dad and it's nice for them, Jonty and Mackenzie to be old enough to sort of understand what dad does. Regardless of whether you score runs or not, they (kids) give dad a hug. That puts everything into perspective and hopefully when they are bit older than they are now, they will be proud of what I have achieved as a cricketer for them," Taylor said.
