Inspirational Ashes Countdown No.30: former Australia captain Mark Taylor

We commence our Inspirational Ashes 30-day countdown to the 2010-2011 series by looking at Mark Taylor, who at the age of 30, captained his first Ashes Test.

In November 1994, Taylor captained his first Australia Ashes side. Inheriting the captaincy from the iconic Allan Border, the pressure was on the new captain to continue the success to which Australian cricket fans had been accustomed.

 The Australia team in 1994-1995 was packed to the brim with modern greats: Michael Slater, Michael Bevan, Mark and Steve Waugh, and Ian Healy behind the stumps.

In his first Ashes Test as captain, Taylor led Australia to a 184-run win in Brisbane as Michael Slater (176) and Steve Waugh (140) belted the England attack.

Continuing the trend, Australia won the second Test by 295 runs at the MCG, as Shane Warne became just the third Australian to take an Ashes hat-trick. While Warne downplayed his achievement, Taylor said

Mark Taylor's record against England

Debuted in the 1989 series in Leeds Played 33 Ashes matches Played 61 innings, scoring 2505 runs Average of 42.5 Scored his first Test century at Headingly

In total, Taylor captained 50 of his 104 Tests. In his time at the helm he won three Ashes series against England and memorably broke a 20-year hoodoo when Australia defeated West Indies in the 1995 series.