Experts not surprised by Aussie skipper's decision (18 October 1998)
PESHAWAR, Oct 17: Former Test stalwarts, including Test cricket's highest run-getter Allan Border, feel that Mark Taylor's decision has not surprised them but admitted that it was a tough, bold and brave one
18-Oct-1998
18 October 1998
Experts not surprised by Aussie skipper's decision
By Our Special Representative
PESHAWAR, Oct 17: Former Test stalwarts, including Test cricket's
highest run-getter Allan Border, feel that Mark Taylor's decision has
not surprised them but admitted that it was a tough, bold and brave
one.
"It was a tough call. But for the sake of the game, he has made the
right decision," Border, scorer of 11174 runs, told Dawn in an
exclusion interview.
West Indies's legendary and athletic bowler, Michael Holding, said:
"Last evening, I thought Mark Taylor would go for the world record.
Certainly, if I had been in his position, I would have definitely
gone for it because it's an opportunity that does not come every day.
"He has really surprised me."
"I don't think it was a good decision to make but it was a very brave
one," Ramiz Raja, former Pakistan captain believed.
But Allan Border, under whose captaincy Taylor began his
international career and also succeeded him four years ago on the
tour of Pakistan, was full of praise for his successor.
"I think more Test captains should know Mark Taylor's attitude that
(for him) game comes first. He always plays to win the matches and he
has made the very unselfish decision sensing Australia's best chances
of winning the Test and the series," Border, now an Australian
selector, remarked.
"There must have been suggestions from his team-mates that he should
bat on and try and get the required 42 runs. For the sake of the
game, he has made a very brave decision," Border said.
Border opined that Taylor would never regret throwing away an
opportunity of breaking the world record.
"I think Mark (Taylor) is sort of a thinker that he has now equal Sir
Donald Bradman's (highest Test score). And throughout cricket talking
and discussions in the future, he will always be likened with Sir
Donald Bradman.
"He is quite happy with that situation. He never thought that he
would get an opportunity to score a triple century. So he is happy in
that respect.
"If the game petters out into a draw, he would reflect back and say
he should have batted for half an hour or so on the third morning.
But he would still prefer a victory for the country over his personal
triumph," Border observed.
However, Border said had he been the captain and one of his batsmen
was overnight batting on 334 with three days of cricket still to be
played, he would have given him 30 minutes to get the runs.
"I would have told him whatever you do, you have 30 minutes and after
that we would call off the game. But I would have definitely given
him a chance to cross 375.
"But had I been batting, I would have taken the decision which Mark
Taylor has taken," said a soft-spoken Border.
Michael Holding, West Indies giant fast bowler of yesteryear, said it
was a very peculiar question what he felt about the West Indies still
having that record.
"Certainly, any West Indian holding a world record is always
something which you can be proud of.
"But as far as Mark Taylor is concerned, what is very important for
Australia is that they haven't won a Test series in Pakistan for 39
years. Taylor wants to make sure that it's on cards by giving his
team an opportunity to do that," Holding, who captured 249 wickets in
60 Tests, said.
"It was a once in a life-time opportunity for Taylor. Most of the
batsmen don't even get this. In this background, I was surprised. But
as he said, he thought more of his team than himself."
Holding was of the view that Taylor would not regret this decision
because most of the Australians always think about the team before
they think about themselves. "And that's precisely why most of the
Australians don't hold world records."
Holding thought that once Taylor made that decision, he knew what
options he had before him. "He knew that he can win the Test and the
match can even fizzle out into a draw. But he decided to take a
chance and win the Test."
David Hookes felt that the post of Australian captaincy was very
important back home and the skipper is supposed to do it for team's
reasons and not own's reasons.
"Had I been batting at 334 and the skipper had announced the
declaration, I would not have felt dejected. I don't think you play
for world records. I think world records come about in right
situations but in this situation, Australia are desperately trying to
win the match and the series," Hookes remarked.
Hookes admitted that the Australians take more pride in bracketing
themselves with Sir Donald Bradman rather than creating world
records.
Ramiz Raja said Australians always play to win "and probably that was
the only thing at the back of Taylor's mid. His team-mates tried to
talk him out this morning but he had made his decision last night and
stuck to it."
Raja said Taylor's decision spoke of the overall team spirit and
character of the side. "This speaks volumes of how they play their
cricket and what they want to achieve.
"It is a decision which should be praised rather than made into a
controversial one," said Raja.
"I would have felt very bad had my captain declared the innings if
the world record had been in my sight. But had I been the captain, I
would have given him the time to achieve the landmark," Raja, a
scorer of 2,883 runs, said.
Mike Coward, Australia's leading cricket columnist and a literary
award winner, said Taylor had a difficult last night when he talked
to his players what he should do as he has always been a consensus
captain. "The players wanted him to take the decision," Coward said.
Coward, who has covered almost every Test Australia has played in the
last two decades, said when Taylor go to his bed he had decided to
chase the record. "He woke up after mid-night and kept on thinking
what he should do. But when he woke up to begin the day, he decided
to declare the innings and stick to the game plan which was that they
would not bat for more than two days."
Coward recalled that in 1946-47, Sid Barnes admitted that he got
deliberately out at 234 "because Sir Donald Bradman had also scored
234. I am sure Taylor didn't do it deliberately but for the rest of
his life he will take pride to be bracketed with Sir Don Bradman."
Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)