Australia Cricket Players
Mark Taylor
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1990
Mark Anthony "Tubby" or "Tubs" Taylor (born 27 October 1964 in Leeton, New South Wales) was a Test opening batsman from 19881999, as well as captain from 19941999, 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 equalling the Australian record score of 334 against Pakistan in 1999 (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.
- Full name : Mark Anthony Taylor
- Born : October 27, 1964, Leeton, New South Wales
- Batting style : Left-hand bat
- Bowling style : Right-arm medium
- Test debut : Australia v West Indies at Sydney - Jan 26-30, 1989
- Last Test : Australia v England at Sydney - Jan 2-5, 1999
- ODI debut : Australia v Sri Lanka at Melbourne - Dec 26, 1989
- Last ODI : England v Australia at The Oval - May 24, 1997
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