Cricket: Taylor's absence immediately felt

A dejected Brendon McCullum walks off the pitch after being caught behind yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

If fans doubted the influence Ross Taylor wields, they only had to look at yesterday's first innings of 192 against India to be convinced otherwise.

Taylor is missing the test because of the impending birth of his second child. His only contribution to the first day's play came via the odd tweet while watching at home.

After the 29-year-old's third century in as many tests against the West Indies in Hamilton, captain Brendon McCullum said: "If he was to retire now he'd go down as one of our all-time greats - and I said [to the team] we should enjoy watching a guy like that."

There can't have been much enjoyment watching the top order evaporate to 45 for four in the 23rd over. Still, it's better than being all out for 45, as happened in January last year when Taylor also missed the test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Fortunately for New Zealand, yesterday's effort wasn't in the same category with Kane Williamson, Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Southee helping scramble a total.

That's no reflection on the quality of Tom Latham, who has played as a specialist opener of late yet found himself debuting at No4. Latham effectively opened, given his entrance came during the 12th over at 26 for two. The 21-year-old's future as an opening batsman mightn't be far off, having scored 687 runs at an average of 68.70 in the Plunket Shield this season. It was also a pitch which, with the early movement, could have seen anyone go early. Kane Williamson said there was bound to be "a ball with your name on it".

However, on the law of averages Taylor's presence has impact. His batting, particularly with Williamson, exudes a confidence that settles the dressing room and rebuilds composure rather than having players padding up in a frenzy before heading through an imaginary revolving door.

His weight of runs is hard to replicate as the fifth-ranked test batsman in the world with an average of 46.94 (the highest of any New Zealander with 20 or more test innings) and a summer which has brought 539 test runs at 134.75.

Williamson said it was a factor in the side's cheap dismissal but not the sole reason for failure.

"Obviously Ross is a world-class player who has performed fantastically this season. Naturally you miss him [but] Tommy [Latham] is a fine cricketer who faced a tough debut [on that wicket]. "