Former Test spinner Peter Taylor – a shock choice in the Australian side 24 years ago – has implored modern-day mystery man Michael Beer to forget analysing his selection and trade on his anonymity in the third Ashes Test.
Taylor was greeted with headlines of 'Peter Who' after he was plucked from the NSW side after just four first-class games and thrown into the national team for the final Test of the 1986/87 Ashes series.
He responded with a man-of-the-match performance on debut, claming eight wickets and scoring 42 to help Australia to a face-saving win after Mike Gatting had led England to an Ashes series win, the last time the Poms have claimed it on Australian soil.
It's been called the biggest gamble since Taylor's call-up nearly a quarter of a century ago.
"When I was picked I remember trying to understand why they had picked me," Taylor, who played 13 Tests, told Sportal.
"For a bloke like him it's a great opportunity."
"He can't be intimidated. He's just got to get on there and do his job."
"He's obviously an accomplished player or they wouldn't have picked him."
He feels the left-arm finger spinner could threaten England's in-form batting line-up simply because they know little about him.
"I identify a little bit with his situation," Taylor said.
"When I look back on my experience, I think he's got to look at it as a great opportunity."
"I had six years of playing for Australia – very few blokes get that chance."
"Playing for Australia is a great privilege – it's not a right – and it hurts to lose and it should hurt."
"I'm sure they are feeling that and hopefully they bounce back in the next few Tests."
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