Taylor targets Black Caps Test record

Ross Taylor will make his return to the Back Caps with the chance to equal a New Zealand Test record that has the country abuzz.

The middle-order batsman's last innings for New Zealand was an unbeaten 102 against Pakistan in the second Test in Hamilton last November.

It took his tally of centuries in the five-day format to 16, one behind his mentor Martin Crowe, the late New Zealand legend.

Quick Single: Taylor breaks 112-year-old record

But the prospect of joining Crowe at the top of the list appears to be something others are talking about more than Taylor himself.

"I think a lot of other people have brought it up," he said. "Even people in the supermarket come and mention it to you."

Taylor said that when Crowe gave him some records he should look to break, it was more for motivational reasons.

"Sometimes, you just play cricket and you just meander along and I think that is when the goals come into it," he said.

"At the moment, I'm pretty happy with where my game is at. If I can get myself in and play well, then if the hundred comes, it comes. If not, I'll just continue to try and be as consistent as possible."

After the Hamilton Test, which completed a 2-0 series victory for New Zealand, Taylor had an operation to remove a growth on his left eye.

He has had two innings since, scoring 82 not out and 80 for Central Districts in New Zealand's domestic Twenty20 competition at the end of December.

New Zealand now play Bangladesh in a two-Test series, with the first of those matches starting in Wellington on Thursday. The Basin Reserve wicket was still covered in lush green grass as the Black Caps trained on the outfield, with a seaming deck not expected to make batting conditions easy.

As Taylor prepares to re-enter the international arena, the 32-year-old right-hander is hoping he can pass on as much of his experience to the younger members of the squad.

"I know what it felt like when I came into the New Zealand set-up as a youngster," he said.

"A lot of older guys started retiring towards the beginning of my career and I had no one to really learn off, so hopefully I can hang around and teach a few of these youngsters and help them along the way."

NZ leading Test century-makers

17 – Martin Crowe
16 – Ross Taylor
14 – Kane Williamson
12 – John Wright, Brendon McCullum