Ross Taylor overtakes Stephen Fleming, becomes highest run-getter in Test for Kiwis

 

Veteran New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor has made his name engraved into the history books by becoming the country’s highest-run getter in the Test format, overtaking former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming in the coveted list.

While playing against Australia on the fourth day of the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the 35-year-old right-hand batsman lifted the ball over wide mid-on and ran three runs to reach the amazing feat. Taylor crossed Fleming’s record in his 99^th Test while the former skipper made that record in his 111^th match. He took 14 innings less than Fleming to break the record.

The batsman is now on the 49^th place in the list of most number of runs in red-ball cricket.

The top five run-getters for the Kiwis include the likes of Brandon McCullum (6453 runs), the current skipper of the team Kane Williamson (6379 runs) and legendary batsman Martin Crowe (5444 runs).

But Taylor could not take his team out of the miserable situation at the SCG. The batsman was dismissed by a peach of a delivery from Aussie pacer Pat Cummins at the score of 22, pushing Kiwis closer to another humiliating loss. 

Ross Taylor started his career in 2007 against South Africa and has been a mainstay for the New Zealand team across all the formats. He has a career average of 46.28 in 99 matches, striking 33 half-centuries and 19 centuries during his illustrious career.

In related news, the Kiwis are just three wickets away to lose the ongoing third Test against the Tim Paine-led side. The fourth day started with David Warner taking on Kiwi bowling lineup and getting to his 24^th Test hundred. On the other hand, Marnus Labuschagne scored another half-century before getting out.

New Zealand needed 416 runs to win the game but their innings started in the worst possible way. They lost half of their side under 40 runs and only Colin De Grandhomme could get past the 30-run mark in the innings and also got a half-century to his name.

Currently, the New Zealand side has lost 8 wickets at the score of 136 with Mitchell Starc taking 3 wickets and Nathan Lyon has four to his name. He is just one wicket shy of completing a ten-wicket haul in the match. 

Highest Run-Getter For New Zealand (Tests):

Ross Taylor – 7174 runs

Stephen Fleming – 7172 runs

Brandon McCullum – 6453 runs

Kane Williamson – 6379 runs

Martin Crowe – 5444 runs