Name: Taylor, Mark A (Australia) Born: 27/10/1964 Matches: 104 (1989-1999)

Batting Bowling Fielding Innings: 186  Overs: 7.0  Catches: 157  Not Outs: 13  Balls: 42  Most Catch (Inns): 4  Aggregate: 7525  Maidens: 3  Most Catch (Match): 5  Average: 43.50  Runs: 26  Wicket Keeping Highest Score: 334* Wickets: 1  Catches: 0  50s: 40  Average: 26.00  Stumpings: 0  100s: 19  5 Wicket Innings: 0  Most Catch (Inns): 0  200s: 2  10 Wicket Match: 0  Most Catch (Match): 0  300s: 1  Best (Inns):  1/11  Most Dism (Inns): 0  Ducks: 5  Best (Match):  1/11  Most Dism (Match): 0  Pairs: 1  Economy Rate:   3.71  Captaincy Opened Batting: 186  Strike Rate:   42.00  Matches/Won/Lost:   50/26/13  Scoring Rate 41.61      Tosses Won: 26 (52.00%)  Left Handed Batsman

 

Mark Taylor made his mark on world cricket with an assuraty that was to last for 104 Tests and despite a lean spell answered his critics to the best of his ability with a resounding an determined 334 not out in Peshwar against Pakistan in 1998.

 

Taylor made his debut for Australia in 1989 against the West Indies and despite two average games he did enough to secure his berth on his maiden ashes tour, a decision the selectors never regretted. He was a gifted left-handed opener and more than a competent slip fielder (mainly 1st slip) taking 157 catches during his long career which remains a world record.

 

On tour in 1989 Taylor score 839 runs against England that included two centuries (136 & 219) and 5 half centuries scoring at an average of 83.90 per innings.

 

In 1994 following Allan Border's retirement, Taylor stepped in to fill the shoes but like so many players taking over the reigns he failed misserably in both his innings as captain. His captaincy record reads as follows; he led his team 50 times, winning 26 of them and loosing only 13 matches. Taylor was also a lucky captain winning the toss 26 times at an average percentage of 52.

 

He scored 40 half centuries, 19 centuries, 2 doubles and 1 triple and had a career average of 43.50 at a rate of 41.61.

 

In 1998 following a lengthy slump in form and despite calls for him to call it a day Taylor rescued Australia in Pakistan with the most memorable knock of his career equalling the then highest score by an australian Sir Don Bradman's 334. Hayden would eclipse this record witha world record 380 some years later and in doing so became the first Australian to go past Don's score.

 

Mark Anthony "Tubby" or "Tubs" Taylor (born 27 October 1964 in Leeton, New South Wales) was not only an opening Test batsman from 1988–1999but 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 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.

 

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 of Surveying from the University of New South Wales in 1987