Ross Taylor becomes first player to play 100 matches in all three formats
Wellington: Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor on Friday made history when he took the field against India in the opening Test here as he became the first player to play 100 matches in all three formats of the game.
The ongoing match at the Basin Reserve is his 100th Test. Taylor was presented his 100th Test cap by former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith before the match.
"Really excited about the occasion. It's very nice for the team and the family to experience something they might never do again," he said.
"I'll need some help drinking (the hundred bottles of wine), but they can be stored for a while. It keeps the tradition from Fleming, Brendon (McCullum) and Dan (Daniel Vettori) who all played over a hundred Tests each and hopefully we can celebrate this one with a win."
The 35-year-old played his 100th T20 International against India last month. He has also played 231 ODIs for New Zealand. The right-handed batsman is already his country's leading run-scorer in Test and ODI with 7174 and 8570 runs respectively to his name.
In T20 Internationals, he has scored 1909 runs and former captain Brendon McCullum (2140 from 71 matches) and opener Martin Guptill (2536 from 88 matches) are the only two Kiwi players above him on the list.
Taylor made his Test debut in 2007 and played his first ODI match a year earlier.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
