Ross Taylor's innings rated as one of NZ's greatest

Ross Taylor plays a shot during day three of the second test match between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Craig McMillan believes Ross Taylor's magnificent double century at the Waca yesterday has been in the pipeline for a while.

Taylor starts the fourth day of the second test against Australia later today on 235, the highest of his 13 test centuries and, in batting coach McMillan's opinion, among the best by a New Zealand batsman.

"It was an immense innings and has been brewing for some time," McMillan said.

"He's been short of time in the middle, and runs. But what it is they say? Form is temporary, class is permanent.

"His concentration (Taylor has batted 20 minutes short of eight hours), his tempo were superb and his hitting straight down the ground is something he's worked really hard on to open up an area that hasn't always been a strength of his.

"It has to rank right up there as one of New Zealand's best knocks. With the conditions, the match situation, one of the best."

Taylor is 15 short of 250, a mark only reached by five players - Stephen Fleming twice, Glenn Turner, Bryan Young, captain Brendon McCullum and Martin Crowe.

New Zealand will start today on 510 for six, 49 behind Australia and looking for more runs in an important first session.

"We had to do a lot of work to get close to parity after day one. If we can eke out as many runs as we can the game will develop from there," McMillan said.

"Batting will become more challenging over the next two days."

Kane Williamson, who contributed a fine 166, and shared a record-setting stand of 265, New Zealand's best against Australia for any wicket, was also complimentary about the senior batsman's performance.

"I know it's a tough ask but hopefully he can keep going a bit tomorrow. But certainly it's been an absolutely fantastic innings so far," he said.

"I thought he was really calm out there. He just went about his work in a reasonably aggressive way, and that's when he bats at his best, I think."

New Zealand batsmen with two or more test double centuries:

4: Brendon McCullum

3: Stephen Fleming

2: Glenn Turner, Mathew Sinclair, Ross Taylor

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