Ross Taylor’s blistering innings launched him into the record books with his 81 ball Test century the fastest by a BLACKCAP.
It was one ball quicker than Daniel Vettori’s effort against Zimbabwe in 2005 but Taylor wasn’t aware that he was about to upstage his captain, “It’s a bit embarrassing taking that off Dan on his 100th Test match. I had no idea; to be honest I thought Dan got it off about 60 balls against Zimbabwe.
“I did know he had the record but I played in one Test match where the ground announcer got the stats wrong so I didn’t believe him to be honest,” he added.
It was a colourful innings with Taylor riding his luck. It will, however, be remembered more for the belligerent assault on the Australian attack than the near misses and dropped opportunities.
One Nathan Hauritz over yielded 25 runs including three consecutive sixes and in the process handed the spinner a record of his own – the equal most runs conceded in one over by an Australian bowler in Test cricket.
Taylor, who ended with 138, confirmed that his plan was preconceived and came off the back of an ordinary net session before play, “I wanted to be aggressive, if you had seen me at training this morning I couldn't hit the ball off the square so I just wanted to be positive in everything I did, whether it was defensively or attack.
“I guess when I was in that frame of mind there were probably a few balls that I played hard at and I probably shouldn’t have. I suppose I had a bit of luck my way, the rest is history.”
BJ Watling's 46 was the only other score of note but Taylor remained positive at the end of day two despite the BLACKCAPS failing to capitalise on their strong position, “When you bowl that well and reduce Australia to that total and then be 100-odd for two when Watling and myself were out there - we did miss a beat and were probably just one partnership away but we are still in the game.
“We just need a good start tomorrow, if we can repeat the performance of the first innings with the ball, in the second innings then we can put the pressure on Australia and make sure that if we do get an opportunity tomorrow that we bat better than we did.”
When asked about keeping Australia to a reachable total he replied, “It depends on how much the wicket deteriorates. If we could bowl them out for something around their total, or our total, we would be happy with that.
“With two left armers and an off-spinner in their side, I think there would be a bit of rough out there but saying that, there was still a pretty good wicket against Bangladesh on that fifth day so I guess if we need to score 350 – 400 we just have to do it.”
Fastest New Zealand Centuries:
Ross Taylor 81 – v Australia 2009/10
Daniel Vettori 82 v Zimbabwe 2005/06
Bruce Taylor 83 v West Indies 1968/69
Chris Cairns 86 v Zimbabwe 1995/96
Brendon McCullum v Zimbabwe 2005/06
