New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has heaped praise on veteran batsman Ross Taylor, saying he should be considered as one of their greats in the 50-over game.
Taylor on Wednesday struck his 17th ODI century in the second match of the ongoing five-match series against South Africa, thus becoming New Zealand's leading ODI century-maker. He also became the fourth and quickest New Zealander to score 6000 ODI runs.
"I think he's always talked about as one of the greats. His record suggests he should be seen in that light. We are all delighted Ross has the record he deserves," ESPNcricinfo quoted Hesson as saying when he was asked if Taylor gets the recognition he deserves.
However, the Kiwi coach refused to be drawn into any debate over Taylor's T20 position, following the batsman's repeated omission from the T20 squad.
"I think Ross always wants to put a big score out there, which is why he's so valuable for us in one-day cricket," Hesson said.
"I've suggested all the way along that Ross is one of the first picked in one-day cricket, as he rightly should be. Yesterday was another example of how good he is in this format. In the next 12 months we've got loads of one-day cricket and that's our priority," he added.
The 32-year-old earlier failed to grab a spot in the T20 side as he was excluded from the squad for the lone T20 match against South Africa.
Taylor, who is the third-highest run scorer for the Black Caps in the shortest format, has not played any T20I since the World T20 11 months ago.
He was dropped for the three-match T20 series against Bangladesh in January, which New Zealand won 3-0, and in his absence there was success for Colin Munro (101), Tom Bruce (59) and Corey Anderson (94) which meant the selectors were not inclined to change.
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