Mark Taylor: A Captain's Year

Mark Taylor has never had a year like it. Starting his season late, thanks to a back injury, he re-assumed the captaincy of Australia's cricket team for a long and gruelling campaign that would culminate with the battle for the Ashes. Taylor's brilliant tactical captaincy and pugnacious leadership steered the Australian's successfully through fiercely fought Test series against the West Indies, South Africa and England.

But as a batsman, Taylor confronted the agonising reality of something feared and faced by many champions before him - The Slump. At times it seemed as if Taylor was being actively persecuted by media pundits and former players alike, as his career was repeatedly written off. But Mark Taylor refused to give in or give up. With courage and dignity he defied his critics, not only by winning three successive series, but with individual displays like his gritty, fighting century at Edgbaston.