Experienced batsman Ross Taylor felt overwhelmed on surpassing former skipper Daniel Vettori and becoming New Zealand's most-capped international player on Saturday (December 26).
When Taylor took the field on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, it became his 438th appearance for the Black Caps, taking him past Vettori's tally.
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Taylor, who batted very well for his 70 after the Kiwis were put into bat upon losing the toss, has now featured in 103 Tests, 232 ODIs and 102 T20Is for his country.
"Every time you represent your country it's a special moment," Taylor was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz after the day's play. "To represent them 400-odd times and to get the record, it's not what I play for, but it's nice to have got it."
"It was a special occasion - I got some nice words from BJ (Watling) and the team this morning and it felt a little bit like my 100th Test, going out to bat today with a standing ovation."
"I don't know what the ground announcer said, but he must have told the crowd, because I'm sure they wouldn't have known."
Taylor, 36, was recently dropped from the T20I squad by the selectors. This, at a time when the Kiwis are building towards the successive T20 World Cups coming up. But while slightly disappointed about the omission, Taylor said he is focused firmly on the Test series going on.
"I still feel like I've got something to give to the Twenty20 side, but here we are in a Test match, and hopefully I can contribute to a team win," he said.
Taylor's innings on the opening day at Bay Oval, Mount Manganui saw him work hard for his runs and gradually, along with skipper Kane Williamson, allow the side to resurrect their position from 13/2 at one stage to finish with 222/3 by the close of play.
"It was difficult early on," Taylor said. "But you expect that on a day one wicket. It's definitely flattened out, and it's probably a little two-paced at times. It will be interesting - I'm sure it's only going to get a little more uneven over the next couple of days."
"The way Kane and I got through that was nice and pleasing, but you've got to give it to Shaheen (Afridi). I thought he bowled outstandingly well, and Mohammad Abbas didn't really give us much either," he continued, having added 120 runs with Williamson for the third wicket.
In a comparison of the two attacks faced during the home summer so far, Taylor said Pakistan are far more "disciplined" than the West Indies bowlers.
"They (Pakistan) were a lot more disciplined and got the ball in good areas for a lot longer," Taylor said. "West Indies, they did bowl well at times but weren't as consistent as this lot (who are) probably a little bit more experienced."
"When Yasir Shah was bowling, we were on our toes. Quite often the spinners in New Zealand don't bowl much on day one or at all, so it shows what type of wicket it is."
"Obviously, we are happy with where we are at 222 for 3 and would have taken that at the start of the day. But it's how we turn up tomorrow and get through that first hour or two that really dictates how good a day this really was," he added.
