Taylor And Beyond

Under the captaincy of Mark Taylor the Australian Test cricket team became "world champions" by any reckoning. Notably, Taylor's team not only won at home but also enjoyed series wins in the West Indies, South Africa, England and Pakistan. Considered by some to be Australia's finest tactical captain ever, Mark Taylor's own contribution was considerable as were those of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, the Waugh brothers and Ian Healey in particular. Behind the scenes though, controversy was the order of the day with the formation of a Players' Association, betting scandal revelations, Taylor's own huge form slump, nightclub incidents (especially Ricky Ponting) and Australian Cricket Board cover-ups. The Australians have continued to win under Steve Waugh in even finer fashion but again, controversy is never far away.