Former Australia pacer Dirk terms failure of hosts to congratulate New Zealand batsman for his epic 290 in Perth Test as 'horrendous sportsmanship'
New Zealand's Ross Taylor walks back to the pavilion after scoring 290 on Day Four of the Perth Test against Australia yesterday. Inset: Dirk Nannes
Sydney: Former Australia international and current Australian Broadcasting Corporation Grandstand commentator Dirk Nannes slammed Steven Smith's Australians for not congratulating New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor for his 290 in the Perth Test yesterday.
Dirk Nannes
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Nannes expected the Australians to congratulate Taylor when he departed for 290 — the highest-ever score by a visiting batsman in Australia.
"You don't have a guy bat for a day and half out there and just not even acknowledge it. That's horrendous sportsmanship," said Nannes.
"In the spirit of the way this game has been played... I can't help but be disappointed that no one actually went out to him and shook his hand. It's not that hard is it? In isolation what we saw today is probably nothing. At the end of the day, yes they're going to congratulate him and off the field it will all be fine."
Former New Zealand batsman and coach Mark Greatbatch also slammed the Australians. "That is a disgrace and that sums up the Australians. They are just arrogant people and it would be nice if we get three or four quick wickets and they were six down at the end of the day and only 50 in front," said Greatbatch.
New Zealand's Ross Taylor walks back to the pavilion after scoring 290 on Day Four of the Perth Test against Australia yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
The WACA pitch continued to favour batsmen with New Zealand scoring 624 in their first innings in response to Australia's 559. At stumps, Australia were 258 for two in their second innings thanks to unbeaten centuries from skipper Smith (131) and Voges (101).
The hosts enjoy an overall lead of 193. It was Smith's 12th century and fifth this year, but his first in a second innings, while for 36-year-old Voges it was just his second hundred and came in his first Test on his home ground. Voges reached his century from the penultimate over of the day.
Brief scores
Australia 559-9 decl & 258-2 (S Smith 131*, A Voges 101*; T Southee 1-40) lead NZ 624 (R Taylor 290, K Williamson 166; M Starc 4-119, N Lyon 3-107) by 193 runs
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