Mark Taylor (cricketer)

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Mark Taylor Australia (Aus)
Batting style	Left-handed batsman (LHB)
Bowling type	Right-arm medium (RM)
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	104	113
Runs scored	7525	3514
Batting average	43.49	32.23
100s/50s	19/40	1/28
Top score	334*	105
Overs bowled	7	0
Wickets	1	0
Bowling average	26.00	-
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a
Best bowling	1/11	-
Catches/stumpings	157/0	56/0
As of 27 November 2005 Source: Cricinfo.com

Mark Anthony Taylor (born 27 October 1964 in Leeton, New South Wales; nicknamed "Tubby" or "Tubs") was an Australian cricket player and Test opening batsman from 1988–1999, as well as captain from 1994–1999, succeeding Allan Border. He was widely regarded as an instrumental component in Australia's rise to Test cricket dominance, and his captaincy was regarded as adventurous and highly effective. However, he was considered less than ideal for One-Day International cricket and was eventually dropped as one-day captain after a 0-3 drubbing at the hands of England in 1997.

His debut was for New South Wales in 1985.

He retired from Test cricket on 2 February 1999. In 104 Test matches, he scored 7,525 runs with a batting average of 43.49, including 19 centuries and 40 fifties. He was also an excellent first slip - his 157 catches, at the time, a Test record (now held by Mark Waugh).

Highlights of his career include the first Test victory against the West Indies in 1995, 839 runs against England in the 1989 Ashes series (helping Australia to a 4-0 Ashes win), and equaling the Australian record score of 334 against Pakistan in 1998 (Taylor declared the innings closed with his score the same as the record set by Sir Donald Bradman, although, unlike Bradman, Taylor was not out). Both of these records were subsequently surpassed by Matthew Hayden's then-world record of 380 in 2003.

In contrast to his predecessor Allan Border, who acquired the nickname 'Captain Grumpy', Taylor won plaudits for his always cheerful and positive demeanour. His successor, Steve Waugh, further honed the Australian team built by Border and Taylor and went on to set numerous records for victories as captain. Many feel that the development of the side under Taylor was instrumental in Waugh's subsequent success.

He was named Australian of the Year in 1999. A portrait of Mark Taylor was hung in the 2000 Archibald Prize.

Having originally trained as a surveyor, he is now a cricket commentator for the Nine Network, and also appears on The Cricket Show with Simon O'Donnell. He is also a spokesman for Fujitsu air-conditioners.

He obtained a degree in surveying from the University of New South Wales in 1987. ^[1]

Contents 1 Captaincy 2 Retirement 3 References 4 External link

[edit] Captaincy

Taylor was appointed captain in 1994 following the retirement of Border, and his first task was to lead his team on a Test tour of Pakistan in late 1994, where Australia had not won a Test match since the 1959 team lead by Richie Benaud. Despite scoring a pair on his captaincy debut, Australia had the upper hand in the First Test in Karachi, before a long last-wicket stand between Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed saw Pakistan reach the target with a missed stumping by Ian Healy. Australia had the upper hand in the following two Tests, but could not force a result in two high scoring draws. After again defeating England easily in the 1994/95 Ashes series in Australia, Taylor lead his team to the West Indies in early 1995, who the Australians had not defeated in a series in two decades. After winning the first Test in Barbados, Australia were again under pressure after being defeated in three days in the Third Test in Trinidad. However, a victory in the final Fourth Test in Jamaica, saw Australia reclaim the Frank Worrell Trophy.

[edit] Retirement

Mark Taylor retired from International Test Cricket in 1999. He is now a commentator for Channel Nine and mainly commentates on One-Day International matches in Australia, as to spend more time with his family.

[edit] References

1. ^ http://unsw.edu/news/pad/media/1999/jun/86marktaylor.html

[edit] External link

• Cricinfo profile

Persondata
NAME	Taylor, Mark Anthony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH	27 October 1964
PLACE OF BIRTH	Leeton, New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

Preceded by Allan Border	Australian Test cricket captains 1994/1995-1998/9	Succeeded by Steve Waugh
Preceded by Geoff Marsh	Australian One-Day International cricket captains 1986/7-1990/1	Succeeded by Ian Healy
Preceded by Cathy Freeman	Australian of the Year 1999	Succeeded by Sir Gustav Nossal