NEW DELHI: Mark Taylor‘s tenure as Australia’s Check captain started with an unlucky milestone through the 1994 tour of Pakistan.
Within the first Check of the collection, held in Karachi, Taylor etched his identify within the unsuitable sort of file books by turning 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 issue of main from the entrance, particularly on subcontinental pitches which have traditionally troubled international batsmen.
Karachi, infamous for its difficult situations, 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.
Nevertheless, this disappointing begin in Pakistan did not outline Taylor’s profession. In reality, Pakistan would later turn out to be one in all his happiest searching grounds.
4 years later, through the 1998 collection, Taylor returned to the subcontinent as a extra seasoned chief and batsman.
Within the second Check in Peshawar, Taylor performed probably the most 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 very best particular person rating.
But, in a exceptional 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.