NEW DELHI: Mark Taylor’s tenure as Australia’s Check captain started with an unlucky milestone in the course of the 1994 tour of Pakistan.
Within the first Check of the collection, held in Karachi, Taylor etched his identify within the mistaken type of file books by changing into the primary participant to bag a pair (dismissed for zero in each innings) in his debut match as captain.
This surprising failure underlined the problem of main from the entrance, particularly on subcontinental pitches which have traditionally troubled overseas batsmen.
Karachi, infamous for its difficult circumstances, proved to be a harsh initiation for the newly appointed Australian skipper.
Within the first innings, Taylor was caught and bowled by the king of swing Wasim Akram after which departed for a duck after being dismissed by Waqar Younis within the second.
Nonetheless, this disappointing begin in Pakistan did not outline Taylor’s profession. Actually, Pakistan would later turn into one in every of his happiest searching grounds.
4 years later, in the course of the 1998 collection, Taylor returned to the subcontinent as a extra seasoned chief and batsman.
Within the second Check in Peshawar, Taylor performed one of the vital iconic innings in Australian cricket historical past, scoring a powerful 334 not out.
With this innings, he equaled Sir Don Bradman’s then-Australian Check file for the best particular person rating.
But, in a outstanding present of sportsmanship and humility, Taylor declared the innings whereas nonetheless on the crease, leaving Brian Lara’s then-record of 375 inside attain however unchallenged.
