Mark Taylor

Mental strength, grit and determination were the three qualities that best defined Mark Taylor who was arguably amongst the finest captains in cricket history. If Allan Border sowed the seeds of Australian redemption in the late 80s and early 90s, it was Taylor who carried it forward and took his team to the pedestal of cricket - a place they would go on to stay for a really long time. Unlike most left-handed batsmen, Taylor wasn't particularly attractive to watch. His innings' mostly had a workhorse-like approach which nevertheless was mighty effective.

Having racked up plenty of runs in the Sheffield Shield, he made his international debut in the home summer against West Indies in January 1989. However, it was the Ashes tour that year which cemented his spot as a player for the future as he plundered over 800 runs in the series. The technical solidity was a feature of his batting as he remained a vital cog of Australia's top order over the 100-odd Tests that he played in. Apart from batting skills and shrewd captaincy, Taylor was a gem at first slip with bucket hands often gobbling up even most of the half-chances that came his way.

Taylor's finest hour as captain came in 1995 when his Australian team beat West Indies for the first time in over 20 years, thereby signaling a change of guard as far as domination was concerned. In ODIs too, Australia were peaking as a unit, making the final of the 1996 World Cup before being downed by underdogs Sri Lanka. Despite not winning the silverware, there was no doubt that Taylor's leadership had molded the Aussies into a formidable outfit. A lean patch after the World Cup eventually saw him retiring from the 50-over format although he continued with his Test career.

Apart from his mental strength and ability to handle pace/swing, Taylor was equally adept at handling the spinners. He had a fairly decent time in India although it was in Pakistan that he excelled completely. This included a monumental triple century, eventually finishing on 334 not out as he declared the innings because he didn't want to cross Sir Donald Bradman who had held the Australian record for a long time. Therefore, on equalling the score, he decided to close down the innings - a gesture that melted a million hearts and reflected Taylor's persona.

Not many players get to retire on a high due to the timing of their exit but Taylor did well on that count as he had an excellent last couple of seasons with the bat and a fairytale ending in the form of an Ashes victory at home. Probably the ideal exit for an Australian player. Post retirement, Taylor became a TV commentator for Channel 9 and the association has continued over the years. Nicknamed 'Tubby' by his teammates, Taylor was one of the strongest icons in Australian cricket, a person who was instrumental in making the Aussies a battle-hardened unit.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan