Ross Taylor becomes New Zealand’s top Test run scorer

Taylor’s innings of 22 during New Zealand’s 279-run defeat in the third Test against Australia, who swept the series, took him two past Fleming’s tally of 7172 runs.

In one of the few bright spots on a dismal day, as New Zealand once again capitulated to fold for 136 in pursuit of 416, Taylor lofted a Nathan Lyon off-break with the turn over mid-on for three runs, after which his team-mates gave him a standing ovation. He wouldn’t add to the tally, however, as three balls later, Pat Cummins went past Taylor’s outside edge and clattered his stumps with a beautiful outswinger to reduce New Zealand to 38/5.

Taylor’s achievement on Monday means that he now holds the record for the most runs in Tests and ODIs, where he has piled on 8376 runs at an average of nearly 48. Here, too, he is trailed by Fleming, as is the case with the overall international run charts, where Taylor’s 17293 runs are followed by Fleming’s 15289. Though he doesn’t sit on top of the T20I run charts, Taylor is nevertheless among the top three, with 1743 runs at 25.63 and a strike-rate of 121.88.

Taylor is also one match short of becoming the fourth New Zealander to 100 Tests, after Daniel Vettori, Fleming and Brendon McCullum.