Les Taylor (cricketer)

Leslie Brian Taylor, born 25 October 1953, at Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, England, is an English former cricketer who played in two Tests against Australia in 1985.^[1] His first-class cricket was played for Leicestershire and in South Africa for Natal.

The cricket writer Colin Bateman wrote: "His seam bowling was not pretty but it was hostile and effective, while his flailing batting was pure entertainment".^[2] His career was interrupted by a series of injuries.

Life and career

A former miner, Taylor's first-class cricket career started somewhat belatedly at the age of 23.

A solidly-built fast-medium bowler and a reliable county performer over many years, Taylor's chance of Test selection seemed to have gone when he received a three-year ban for joining the Graham Gooch-led rebel tour to South Africa in 1982, where he was the leading bowler with 11 wickets at 18.72 to his name.^[2][3]

After his two Test appearances in 1985, Taylor won selection to the winter tour to the West Indies, but was dubbed "Lord Lucan" by certain members of the press due to his lack of matches on tour and a passing visual resemblance to the "missing" aristocrat.^[2] Taylor appeared in just one One Day International on the tour, but was picked for a second on his return home in the series against India.

His batting ability was such than on one occasion with his county needing only 20 runs to avoid the follow-on, Taylor arrived at the batting crease to face the rampaging Sylvester Clarke. David Gower, the Leicestershire captain, shook his head. "I just can't do it," he said, and promptly declared.^[2]

By the time he had retired from first-class combat in 1990, Taylor had taken 581 wickets at 25.21 apiece.^[3]

Taylor went on to work for Royal Mail as a postman many years after his retirement from cricket.

References