18 October 1998
Cricket captain refuses to pass record set by Bradman
By Tim Reid
Mark Taylor appeals for lbw on Pakistani batsman Ijaz AhmedMARK
Taylor, the Australian cricket captain, made perhaps the most
selfless decision in Test match history yesterday when he spurned
the chance to beat Sir Donald Bradman's batting record for the
highest individual score by an Australian.
Taylor hit an unbeaten 334 against Pakistan in the second Test in
Peshawar to match Bradman's 334 made against England at
Headingley, Leeds, in 1930, but magnanimously declared
Australia's innings closed before the resumption of the third
day's play yesterday.
He also gave up his chance of beating West Indian Brian Lara's
world record of 375. Taylor indicated yesterday that he wished to
remain side by side in the record books with Bradman, regarded by
many as the world's greatest ever batsman, who retired in 1948
with a peerless Test average of 99.94.
The Australian team held a vote on Friday night and decided that
Taylor should bat on. He ignored it, timing the declaration to
give the Australians the best opportunity of bowling out Pakistan
twice, thus securing a series victory. Australia won the first
Test of the three-match series. Taylor said: "I have equalled Sir
Donald Bradman's record and that is more than satisfying for me.
The [Brian Lara] record doesn't mean anything. I'd prefer to win
this game, that's what I'm here for."
The wonderful innings, and a declaration of 599 for four which
put the team cause ahead of his own record hopes, brought
tributes from around the world, most notably from Sir Donald
himself, who has made few public comments since his retirement.
Sir Donald, 90, released a statement through a spokesman, saying:
"I want to congratulate Mark Taylor on his achievement. I wish
him the very best of luck." Sir Donald had been unable to watch
Taylor's innings from his Adelaide home because he was feeling
ill, but was full of admiration for the performance.
Australian newspapers, television and radio were dominated by
Taylor's innings, and the public was consumed with speculation on
whether he declare.
The Australian coach, Geoff Marsh, said that Taylor, known by
team mates as Tubby, had made a great sacrifice for the team. "A
lot of the guys wanted him to bat on but Tubby put the team
before his own record," Marsh said.
Only 16 months ago former Australian cricket greats, such as the
fast bowler Dennis Lillee and former captains Greg and Ian
Chappell, were telling Taylor that his career was over and that
he should retire. He had gone for 20 consecutive innings without
a half century and was in the worst slump of any Australian
captain in history. But the team remained successful, his players
backed him, and his form slowly returned, beginning with a
century during the first Test at Headingley against England in
1996.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)