AFP, Perth :
The New Zealand camp hailed Ross Taylor’s drought-breaking double century as one of the finest Test innings ever played for the country.
Taylor was unbeaten on 235 at stumps on the third day of the second Test against Australia at the WACA Ground on Sunday.
The innings came just under 12 months since his previous Test century and relieved the pressure on Taylor after a recent lean run by his standards.
It was the first time a Kiwi had made a double century against Australia and was also the highest score by a visiting player at the WACA.
New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said he always believed Taylor would return to his best.
“It was an immense innings and it had been brewing for some time,” he said.
“(Taylor) had been a little bit short of time in the middle and runs, but as they say form is temporary and class is permanent.
“That got shown today, his tempo was superb and some of those straight cover drives were the best you would see from any played in the world.
“You’d have to rank it right up there as one of New Zealand’s best Test knocks.” Kane Williamson, who made 166 and put on 265 for the third wicket with Taylor — a New Zealand record against Australia — echoed McMillan’s sentiments.
“I think it would be one of the best innings I have seen,” he said.
“The tempo he batted and the length of time he has been at the crease. An absolutely fantastic innings so far.”
Like McMillan, Williamson said the innings did not come as a surprise.”He’s been working at his game and we all know Ross can play those innings,” he said.
“He was really calm out there and went about his work in a reasonably aggressive way, which is when he bats his best. There were some tough periods, but he was playing so well. He was fantastic all around the park.”
