Martin Crowe, left, on his way to scoring 188 against Australia at Brisbane in 1985. Right, Ross Taylor bats his way into the history books. Photos / Brisbane Chronicle / Getty Images
Martin Crowe, left, on his way to scoring 188 against Australia at Brisbane in 1985. Right, Ross Taylor bats his way into the history books. Photos / Brisbane Chronicle / Getty Images
• Martin Crowe sent Ross Taylor joking text after record • Cricketing great has been in regular contact with Taylor • "He was rapt and I just received a text before and he's very proud" • READ MORE: Australian sportsmanship under scrutiny
New Zealand cricket great and mentor Martin Crowe jokingly told Ross Taylor he was disappointed with him beating his record for the highest score by a New Zealander against Australia at the Waca.
Taylor passed Crowe's record of 188, scored against the hosts in Brisbane in 1985, on day three of the test.
Taylor then went on to make a monumental 290, which anchored New Zealand's highest total against Australia, 624, before he was dismissed late in the first session on day four.
Taylor said he has been in regular contact with Crowe. ''He sent me a long email. I heard a little bit from him before Brisbane," he said.
''I got a text from him last night and he jokingly said he was disappointed because that was his proudest moment, having the record here in Australia, 188.
''He was rapt and I just received a text before and he's very proud."
Reflecting on his innings, Taylor revealed eyedrops played a significant part in the record-smashing double century.
He had his eyes tested between the first and second tests.
At Brisbane a week ago, Taylor struggled with a duck and 26.
He had had precious little lead-up play, courtesy of being laid up for six weeks recovering from testicular surgery after being struck a painful blow while in the nets during New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe in August.
And his eyes were giving him gyp. ''I couldn't really see the ball so the eyedrops obviously worked,'' he said last night.
''I have a pterygium (growth) in my left eye and I do that a lot [opening his eyes wide].
Martin Crowe pouring a celebratory drink for New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney after winning the first cricket test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane in 1985. Photo / Brisbane Chronicle
''The optometrist said when it's dark you'll probably do this a lot and I told the boys and they lost it because that's how they take the mickey out of me."
The Zimbabwe injury was a blow of a different kind.
''(When) I was out of the game for six weeks, I couldn't do anything. I was anxious, it's a big tour and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
''I wanted to do well, and was all at sea.
''I'd put too much pressure on myself so I just relaxed, got on the balls of my feet and played straight. It was chalk and cheese from where I was a week ago."
The result was a spectacular return, a 13th test century - only his mentor Martin Crowe with 17 has more for New Zealand.
Taylor battled just under 10 hours, faced 374 balls in his marathon in the middle and although he fell 13 runs short of overtaking Brendon McCullum's New Zealand record 302, he went well past the former best mark against Australia, Crowe's 188.
His score was the highest by any overseas player in a test in Australia.
Taylor said In his mind were the words of his doctor who told him that he should avoid being struck in the groin for four months.
''It's an interesting thing to tell a player. I think I've got about two months to go, so I'm counting down," he quipped.
''It's good to be hitting balls again but there's no discomfort. It's a bit nerve-racking when 160kmh is coming at you but once you get into the fight the adrenalin kicks in and the instincts take over and you just bat."
''Bitter-sweet, obviously I was disappointed not to get 300 but if you said at the start of the day I would have been close, I would have taken it."
Taylor was last man out, and he joked that he felt happy for No 11 Trent Boult, that he did not get out and leave Taylor stranded.
''He was so nervous out there, if he got out and I was close that could have broken him for a few years," he laughed.
Taylor's father Neil says his son wouldn't care about his Australian opponents failing to shake his hand after the knock.
Taylor Snr from Masterton said Ross "wouldn't be bothered at all" by the Australians not shaking his hand or offering congratulations after his mammoth innings.
"He's not the sort of guy who worries about that sort of thing, he'd be more annoyed at getting out when he did," he told the Wairarapa Times Age.
Neil Taylor said he was "very proud" of what his son had achieved and the way he handled the media interest.
"He's never changed, he's never been one to be too excited about what he's done."
His father admitted some trepidation as Ross was facing the likes of Mitchell Starc, who clocked up to 160.4km/h during a blistering second new-ball spell on the second afternoon.
"There was always that worry he would get hit there again but, fortunately, that didn't happen," Neil Taylor said. "It didn't do much for the nerves though."
