Mark Taylor

Former Australian Cricketer

When Mark Taylor retired from international cricket, the curtain fell on an outstanding career as a player and Test captain. In a stunning farewell tribute, the influential international cricket bible Wisden saluted Mark Anthony Taylor as ‘the greatest modern day captain’.

During the decade Mark Taylor opened the batting for Australia and the five years he was our highly-acclaimed captain, the New South Welshman, voted Australia’s most admired sportsperson by Inside Sport magazine in the year of his retirement, was in the vanguard of a triumphant era for Australian cricket, departing the game with his country clearly the No. 1 Test-playing nation.

During the Taylor regime, the record books were constantly updated on both a team and personal front. Mark Taylor left the game with several proud personal milestones including his record-equalling 334 not out, in the second Test against Pakistan at Peshawar in October 1998. His history-making 12-hour innings compiled from 564 balls and laced with 32 fours and one 6, enabled him to share the mantle as Australia’s highest run scorer in Test cricket with the incomparable Sir Donald Bradman.

That Mark Taylor declared Australia’s innings closed with his score unconquered on 334, thus forfeiting the chance to edge his way past Sir Donald, earned him widespread praise from cricket lovers around the world.

Australia’s captain from 1994 to 1999 with 7,525 runs from 104 Tests at an average of 43.50, Mark Taylor had most success against England, against which he scored six Test centuries. In all scoring a total of 19 Test centuries and 40 scores above 50.

A graduate in surveying from the University of New South Wales, in 1999 'Dr' Mark Taylor was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his outstanding leadership and sportsmanship. The same year he was named Australian of the Year (1999) and in 2002, was inducted in both the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the NSW Sports Centre’s Hall of Champions.

In 2003 Mark Taylor was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) for service to cricket as a player, administrator and mentor, and to the community, particularly through support for organisations involved in fundraising for cancer research. In 2003 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for his services to Australian society through cricket.

His community services include being a Foundation Director of Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation which provides funding to the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia through an annual Mark Taylor Fellowship - and Patronships of the Sony Foundation and Parramatta Mission.

Mark Taylor is a former NSW Father of the Year (1995), a successful author (Time to Declare, 1999), a Sydney Olympic Games Ambassador, Stadium Australia Ambassador, a cricket commentator with the Nine Network and Board member of Cricket NSW.