Mark Taylor - Time to Declare

BytheRightHon.JohnHoward,PM

M ark Taylor came to the captaincy of the Australian Cricket Team in 1994 with the high demands of an expectant cricketing nation. It had been twenty years since Australia had been led by an opening batsman. Moreover, under Allan Border, and the watchful eye of the then coach Bobby Simpson, Australia had developed a strong team which enjoyed increasing success in both the Test and one-day international arenas.

From the earliest days, there could be no doubting Marks abilities as a batsman and superb slips fieldsman. His first two Tests in 1989 against a rampant West Indies team, then at the very height of its dominance, had been encouraging. A triumphant first full series against England followed with Mark becoming the second highest Australian runs scorer in an Ashes series behind Sir Donald Bradman. Further successes with the bat at home and abroad followed so that, by the time of his appointment to the captaincy, Mark had scored centuries against each of the teams Australia encountered in Test matches. This is a feat that has been emulated by only one other Australian batsman since Australia began playing Tests against Sri Lanka in 1983.

Mark proved his leadership credentials at an early time. The agonisingly close one-wicket loss to Pakistan in 1994 heralded the start of a new era in Australian cricket. Leaving aside the one-off Test played in New Delhi against India in 1996, Australia was to lose only one other series during his tenure as captain, to India in 1998.

In his penultimate series as captain, Mark led Australia to an historic series victory on the subcontinent against Pakistan later in the same year. In between, Marks record as captain will be long rememberedthe West Indies was twice defeated, the Ashes were retained in England and South Africa was overcome at home and away. His success in leading Australia to the brink of victory in the 1996 World Cup was another highlight.

Mark deployed the resources available to him with great aplomb. While his attention to detail and analysis of opponents are well known, his ability to make bowling changes to secure wickets for Australia at crucial times and to press for the selection of players he thought would advance Australias cause were renowned.

Similarly, the spirit and adventure with which Australia played under Marks leadership recalled an earlier halcyon era in Australian cricket. Faced with defeat, Mark was always gracious and generous towards his victornever churlish.

Perhaps the greatest victory for which Mark will be remembered will be the way in which he courageously responded to a lapse in personal form in the mid-1990s.

Despite the individual and team success which Mark had enjoyed up until that time, his 21 Test innings in 199597 without scoring 50 proved to be testing days for Mark personally and for Australian cricket as a whole. The incredible support which Mark received during this period from his wife Judi, parents and team-mates has been well documented. The fact that he emerged from the slump with a century against the old enemy and went on to equal Sir Donald Bradmans highest score by an Australian batsman in Test cricket is an outstanding testimony, not only to his fighting qualities and inner strength, but to the confidence shown in him by the Australian selectors and the Australian public.

At the conclusion of the recent Ashes series, the Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, Denis Rogers, spoke of the debt of gratitude which Australian cricket owed to Mark Taylor. Much is, of course, already on the public record. I am, nevertheless, looking forward very much to reading the autobiography to gain fresh insights into, and perspectives on, one who over the past decade has contributed enormously to the strength and stability of Australian cricket and been responsible for giving pleasure to so many who cherish the game around the world.

One of the greatest honours and pleasures, for me as Prime Minister has been the opportunity to not only follow the fortunes of the Australian Cricket Team, but to spend time with its members, particularly under the captaincy of Mark Taylor. Mark has been a credit to himself, his family, his team and his country and a worthy recipient of Australian of the Year in 1999. He has been a great representative of cricket and of Australia. I will always admire his strength of character, his ability to meet every challenge and to always maintain a love of the game in the greatest traditions of Australian cricket.

Neil Marks

I n smaller ways and larger, Neil Marks has been part of Mark Taylors life in cricket ever since the day young Taylor first put a toe in the water of Sydney grade cricket, with Northern District back in 1981. Neil Marks played first-grade with Northern District at fifteen and Sheffield Shield for NSW at twenty. In his first game for the Blues he scored 180 not out and was acclaimed as a rising star of exceptional talent. But at twenty-two he was diagnosed as having a serious heart condition, requiring a series of operations in Australia and the USA. The health problem put an end to his ambitions in big-time cricket but he continued to play with his old club for many years and his involvement with the game has never ceased. Raconteur, author and all-round good fellow, Marks has been an official with Northern District for countless seasons and a NSW Sheffield Shield selector for the last thirteen years. Over the seasons since 1981 he has been friend, supporter, ally and advisor to Mark Taylor. Suggestions that he has been Taylors mentor are deflected by Marks, however. Were mates. We talk, he says. Here he recalls aspects of the young man who came to Northern Districts practice one day in the early spring of 1981and went on to become one of Australias most successful batsmen and famous captains.

I knew the kid was coming to a practice session. A bloke from Lindfield Shires Club had rung me, as Northern Districts chairman of selectors. So he duly turned up. Mr Marks, said the nuggetty youngster, Im Mark Taylor and I was told to come and see you. Okay, yes... thats fine, I said, a little distracted. Now, you go over there and do some slips fielding, Matt. Its Mark he said. Mark Taylor.

I watched him for a while, catching and hitting some catches... that sort of thingand something my father used to say came back to me. My dad, who had played interstate cricket and rugby, had a theory that he could see a kid take one catch or kick one balland he could tell whether the youngster was a good cricketer or good footballer. Not necessarily whether he was a potential champion, but whether he could play. He would say: Ive only got to see them do it once. I thought of that as I watched Mark Taylor for the first time that day. Austie Hughes, Northern Districts president, sidled up as the practice session wore on. What do you think? he asked. I think hes the best weve had since my brother Lynn, I replied. Although they were both left-handers, Mark and Lynn in fact were pretty much different in style. Lynn, who played State cricket, was a thrashing player, but a fairly classical one toothough even back then Mark looked a better defensive player. His feet moved correctly.