Peter Taylor (Australian cricketer)

Peter Taylor

Personal information
Full name	Peter Laurence Taylor
Born	(1956-08-22) 22 August 1956 (age 68) North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm offbreak
Role	All rounder
International information
National side	Australia (1987–1992)
Test debut (cap 340)	10 January 1987 v England
Last Test	26 December 1991 v India
ODI debut (cap 96)	18 January 1987 v England
Last ODI	18 March 1992 v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1985/86–1988/89	New South Wales
1990/91–1991/92	Queensland
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI Matches 13 83 Runs scored 431 437 Batting average 26.93 19.86 100s/50s 0/2 0/1 Top score 87 54* Balls bowled 2,227 3,937 Wickets 27 97 Bowling average 39.55 28.24 5 wickets in innings 1 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 6/78 4/38 Catches/stumpings 10/– 34/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  Australia ICC Cricket World Cup Winner 1987 India and Pakistan
Source: CricInfo, 12 December 2005

Peter Laurence Taylor (born 22 August 1956) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 13 Test matches and 83 One Day Internationals between 1987 and 1992. He became a Test match selector for Australia in the late 1990s. Taylor was a part of the Australian team that won their first world title during the 1987 Cricket World Cup.

His initial selection for Australia in 1986–87 came after only a handful of games for NSW was a huge shock. It was initially thought that his more known New South Wales colleague Mark Taylor had been selected. He was dubbed Peter Who? by the media. Taylor played for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield between 1985 and 1990 and played two seasons for Queensland (1990–92)

He justified his selection with a stunning 6/78 on debut against England at Sydney.^[1] He however was unable to repeat such a feat again in his test career (12 more matches between 1987 and 1992).

However Taylor became the staple spin-bowler of the Australian One Day team of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was able to bowl his off-spin with economy and pick up vital wickets in matches. He was also a good fielder and an able lower order batsman. He played 83 times taking 97 wickets between 1987 and 1992, appearing in both the 1987 and the 1992 World Cups.

Taylor was noted for his deliberate approach to the wicket and the rhythmical nature of his bowling action that involved him first swinging his bowling arm, joining hands as he swung forwards then completing a loop of his joined hands before delivering the ball. He was noted as a heavy spinner of a cricket ball and comparisons were made with Ashley Mallett, also a former Australian spin bowler.

• Benaud, Richie (1991). Border & Co: A Tribute To Cricket's World Champions. Hamlyn Australia. ISBN 0-947334-31-9.

• Ashes One-hit wonders – The Guardian 2005