Ross Taylor,
veteran New Zealand batter, is currently playing the final Test of his
illustrious career at Hagley Oval, Christchurch against Bangladesh. After suffering a shock defeat
in the first Test, New Zealand are aiming for a series-levelling win and ensure a proper sendoff for Taylor. At the end of the first day’s play, New Zealand scored 349 for 1, with Tom Latham scoring an unbeaten 186 and Devon Conway 99. Ahead of the Bangladesh series, Taylor had
said that he would retire from international cricket.

Also Read: Devon Conway hits first ton of 2022, joins Clarke, Strauss in elite list

As Taylor
took the field on Sunday, he surpassed New Zealand great Stephen Fleming’s record. Taylor
is currently playing his 112th Test while Fleming played 111 matches in the longest format for New
Zealand. Former captain Brendon McCullum has 101 Test caps under his belt.
Daniel Vettori has played the most number of Tests for New Zealand, 113.

Also Read: Ross Taylor to retire: A look at his major records

On December 30,
2021, Taylor had confirmed that the series against Bangladesh would be his last
in the Test cricket before bowing out in the ODIs against Australia and
Netherlands later this summer.

Taylor will not play the Test series
against South Africa in February but will play one-day international series
against Australia in Australia in February and against the Netherlands at home
in late March and early April. The fourth ODI against the Netherlands in
Taylor’s home town of Hamilton on April 4 will be his last match for New
Zealand.

Also Read: Ross Taylor, veteran New Zealand batter, announces retirement from international cricket

Taylor will retire
as New Zealand’s top scorer in Test and ODI. He has scored 7,656 Test runs and 19 centuries and 8,576 runs in ODIs, ahead of Stephen Fleming (8,037). His 21
ODI centuries also are a New Zealand record.

Also Read: Dale Steyn to Harbhajan Singh: 5 cricketers who announce retirement in 2021

Taylor made his Test debut against South Africa in 2007 and played the first of 233 ODIs
against the West Indies in 2006. He has also played 102 Twenty20
internationals, becoming the first player to play more than 100 matches for New
Zealand in all three formats.