Australian skipper dismisses retirement talk (25 December 1998)

25 December 1998

Australian skipper dismisses retirement talk

AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec 25 (AFP) - Australian Test captain Mark Taylor on Friday dismissed speculation that he might retire by saying he wanted to take on the West Indian bowlers on tour early next year.

The Australian skipper had previously only committed himself to the current Ashes series against England, prompting speculation about his plans. But he told reporters on Christmas Day that he wanted to settle one nagging shortcoming in his illustrious career.

"The one side I haven't played well against is the West Indies. They have been the one bogey side," Taylor said on the eve of Australia's Boxing Day Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"I'll be going over there if selected just trying to relax and play the way I would play against any other side."

Australia tour the West Indies for a four-Test series starting in March.

Taylor, 34, said he had not given retirement much thought, focusing more on Australia's fourth Test battle against England starting Saturday.

The 102-Test veteran enters the match just two victims shy of the world record 156 Test catches held by his predecessor as Australia captain, Allan Border.

"Whether it's my last Boxing Day Test match I don't know. A year is too long," Taylor said.

"I'll stop playing when I'm out in the middle and things aren't happening for me with the bat, as a captain or in the field or I'm standing out there one day thinking 'what the hell am I doing out here'," he said. "That will be the reason I stop playing."

Source :: AFP