Michael Taylor (cricketer)

Michael David Taylor (born 9 June 1955 in Chelsea, Victoria) was an Australian first class cricketer who played for Victoria and Tasmania, and despite never playing Test cricket or One Day Internationals for Australia, also participated in the South African rebel tours.

Michael Taylor made his debut in the 1977-78 season, and was a regular player in the Victoria line-up until the 1984-85 season, when he decided to join the Australian Rebels in South Africa the following year. It proved to be an exceptionally good tour for Taylor, as he was the leading run-scorer for the tourists, making 668 runs including 3 centuries, and 3 half-centuries at 55.66, with a high score of 109. He returned to South Africa for the second rebel tour of 1986-87, but it was less fruitful for Taylor. He managed 306 runs at 27.81 with a top score of 64.

Taylor tried to re-enter the first class cricket fold the following Australian summer, but was not welcomed back into the Victoria side. Instead he opted for a move to Tasmania, who at that time were struggling to consolidate a successful batting line-up. He quickly fitted in at the top of their order, and enjoyed good success with the Tasmanian side before retiring in 1990.

External links

• Player profile: Michael Taylor from ESPNcricinfo