Taylor talked about as one of the greats - Hesson

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is unsure about Ross Taylor's future as a T20 cricketer, but he has no doubt that the batsman should be considered one of their greats in the 50-over game.

Taylor became New Zealand's leading ODI century-maker with his 17th hundred in Christchurch and completed a unique set of centuries against all Full Member teams. He also became the fourth and quickest New Zealander to score 6000 ODI runs.

When asked if Taylor gets the recognition he deserves, Hesson said: "I think he's always talked about as one of the greats. His record suggests he should be seen in that light. We are all delighted Ross has the record he deserves."

Hesson, however, refused to be drawn into any debate over Taylor's T20 position and whether the 32-year-old batsman had a point to prove following his omission from the one-off match against South Africa.

"I think Ross always wants to put a big score out there, which is why he's so valuable for us in one-day cricket," Hesson said. "I've suggested all the way along that Ross is one of the first picked in one-day cricket, as he rightly should be. Yesterday was another example of how good he is in this format. In the next 12 months we've got loads of one-day cricket and that's our priority."

Although the major partnership in New Zealand's 289 for 4 was the 123 added by Taylor and James Neesham for the fifth wicket, Hesson said it was the earlier work that proved crucial after New Zealand were put in to bat. Taylor and Kane Williamson strung a third-wicket partnership of 104 runs - their 11th century stand in ODIs - which led former captain Brendon McCullum to tweet they are the "best 3/4 punch in World cricket!" - a regular comment during his international days.

"I thought it was a clinical batting performance from the whole group," Hesson said. "Having got chucked in, it was quite a soft surface, so in the first hour Dean [Brownlie] and Kane did an excellent job; then Kane and Ross. Ross and James [Neesham] at the end were outstanding."

Next month, Taylor will have the chance to improve on a disappointing Test record against South Africa. He averages 24.22 from seven matches, without a half-century, which is his poorest return against any opposition. Only South Africa and Bangladesh, against whom he made 60 and 77 last month, are missing from his Test century list.

"A Test hundred against South Africa is something he's aware of and would like to get, and we'd certainly like to see that in the next month or so," Hesson said. "But we've also got to celebrate how good he was yesterday."