Ross Taylor explains his "tongue poking" celebration

Ross reveals celebration is for his daughter

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor revealed that his habit of poking his tongue out to mark a century is for his daughter Mackenzie, reports cricket.com.au.

Taylor, who scored his highest Test score in the second Test of the ongoing series against Australia at the WACA, continued that habit as he poked his tongue twice, as he got his 13th hundred and then when he got only his second double-hundred.

The first time, he brought out the celebration was also against Australia, when he scored his second ODI century in 2007 in a record-breaking run chase at Eden Park, Auckland. That came on the back of being left out of the New Zealand squad for the 2006 Champions Trophy.

The 31-year-old also admitted that the celebration which began as a dig at the selectors has continued to exist mainly because of his family, especially his daughter and the joy the celebration brings, to her face.

"Right back when I was at age group I got dropped a couple of times when I got hundreds," he told Wide World of Sports. "Then I poked my tongue out - (after) I got dropped – against Australia, my second ODI hundred.“

"Ever since then my daughter has been pretty happy when I poke my tongue out and that's pretty much for her as well.”

Perhaps the celebration runs in the family, as is evident from his Tweet from last year, which shows his son Jonty enjoying it as well.

The Kiwis, who were in a spot of bother, when he arrived at the crease, had managed to wrestle the advantage away from the hosts, by the time Taylor’s marathon innings finally ended on Monday.

The right hander hadn’t been in the best of form, prior to his innings and his record against Australia in Australia was nothing to write to home about either, as evident by his highest score of 75 and average of 26.2 prior to his double ton.

However, his 290, which was compiled over nine-and-a-half hours not only helped turn around his form, but also was crucial in the visitors claiming a handy 65-run lead as they finished on 624, in response to Australia’s 559/9 dec.

Father like son. #Jonty pic.twitter.com/DNlOxuX2qv

— Ross Taylor (@RossLTaylor) July 27, 2014