The BlackCaps outgoing great Ross Taylor on Monday was greeted with a standing ovation and guard of honour as he strolled out in his last test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, notching 28 before he was caught at square leg.
Taylor, who is playing his 112th and final test against Bangladesh at Hagley Oval, equalling Daniel Vettori’s record for the most tests for New Zealand, received a rapturous applause.
Taylor’s wife Victoria, and children Mackenzie (10) Jonty (seven), and Adelaide (four), wearing Black Caps’ ODI shirts, were among those to rise to their feet. Nearly 30 friends and family of Taylor sat in a tent at Hagley on day two, including his parents Neil and Ann, who flew in on Monday morning from Masterton.
Following the fall of Devon Conway’s wicket (dismissed for 109, his third test ton), all eyes were on Taylor in his 196th test innings. It could potentially be Taylor’s last test innings, if the Black Caps only bat once in the test.
The Hagley faithful sensed it could be a special day as Taylor looked in impressive early touch. He was dismissed just short of an hour for 28, picking out Shoriful Islam at square leg – possibly the last time we see him wield his trusty Gunn and Moore again in test whites.
The Hagley faithful sensed it could be a special day as Taylor looked in impressive early touch. He was dismissed just short of an hour for 28, picking out Shoriful Islam at square leg – possibly the last time we see him wield his trusty Gunn and Moore again in test whites.
The Bangladesh players and umpires Chris Gaffaney and Wayne Knights saluted Taylor, forming a guard of honour, as he strolled through to bat with Tom Latham, who brought up his second test double century early on day two.
