Dirk Nannes slams Australia’s lack of appreciation for Ross Taylor’s record-breaking 290

Dirk Nannes, former Australian pacer and current commentator, was disgusted by Australia’s lack of sportsman spirit after none of the fielders congratulated Ross Taylor on his record-breaking 290. It was the highest score by a visiting batsman on Australian soil, and also the third-highest score by any New Zealand batsman. Nannes was extremely critical of what he called, “horrendous sportsmanship” from the Australians. According to abc.net.au, Nannes slammed Australian fielders for not bothering to go up to Taylor after his dismissal for 290, as New Zealand took a lead. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand 2015, 2nd Test at Perth

“Probably the biggest disappointment of that session is that after the innings, he’s made 290, not one person from the Australian camp went and shook his hand. In the spirit of the way this game has been played, and the game before, with the exception of that one incident with Mitchell Starc, I can’t help but be disappointed that nobody went out to him and shook his hand. It’s not that hard is it? You don’t have a guy bat for a day and a half out there and just not even acknowledge it, that’s horrendous sportsmanship,” said Nannes. READ: Ross Taylor’s 290 helps New Zealand establish 65-run lead against Australia in 2nd Test, Day 4 at Perth

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Fellow commentator Gerard Whateley defended Australia by calling it a “lapse of concentration,” and that it did not seem deliberate. “It happened so quickly, and I’m sure the calculations of what was happening with the clock, I doubt it was malicious, it strikes me as more of a lapse.” However, Nannes countered by saying, “The Australian team is pretty good at lapsing. It’s not hard to just do the simple things. When you’ve got a kid, you teach them to say thank you when they go for a sleepover, you teach them to say thank you for the meal. It’s not hard, and yes you say it’s a lapse, but we see it more and more often and it’s not a good look.” READ: Ross Taylor makes highest individual score by a visiting batsman in Australia