51 Facts About Herbie Taylor

Herbert Wilfred Taylor was a South African cricketer who played 42 Test matches for his country including 18 as captain of the side.

Herbie Taylor's batting was noted for quick footwork and exceptional 'backplay'.

Herbie Taylor became the first South African to pass 2,500 Test runs and was selected one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1925.

Herbie Taylor made his first-class debut for Natal in January 1910 against the touring MCC team, he opened the batting in both innings, scoring 55 and 30.

Herbie Taylor shared in a 146-run opening partnership with Gerald Hartigan after the home side had been dismissed for 50.

Opening South Africa's innings, in response to Australia's total of 448, Herbie Taylor was dismissed for a duck.

South Africa followed on and were dismissed for 98 to lose by an innings, Herbie Taylor top-scored in the second innings with 21, having moved down the order.

Herbie Taylor finished the whole tour with 1340 runs, a figure only bettered by Dave Nourse.

Herbie Taylor carried his bat in the first innings, scoring 83 in a total of 124, in the second he scored 42 not out as the match was drawn.

Herbie Taylor carried this form into the first Test at Durban, his first match as captain of South Africa.

However Herbie Taylor got little support from his teammates and South Africa were dismissed for 182.

Herbie Taylor took his Test best bowling figures in the third Test which was again staged in Johannesburg, in England's first innings he took three wickets for 15 runs from 10 overs.

Herbie Taylor opened the bowling in the second innings and, although expensive, claimed the wicket of Rhodes again.

In terms of batting Herbie Taylor scored 14 and 70, the latter innings came in a 153-run opening stand with Billy Zulch.

The last of these was against Natal, and just like in the earlier tour fixture Herbie Taylor dominated the scoring for the hosts.

Herbie Taylor was dismissed by him in both innings, scoring 16 in the first and 93 in the second, an innings Wisden described as "more cautious than usual".

Herbie Taylor, who played with ease and assurance in each Test match.

Herbie Taylor must be counted one of the six greatest batsmen of the post-Grace period.

Cardus wrote that Herbie Taylor's performance was "perhaps the most skilful of all Test performances by a batsman".

Herbie Taylor scored 150 in the opening match of the season against Orange Free State and finished with 372 runs at an average of 53.14.

Herbie Taylor's knock included 25 boundaries and was the largest by a South African against England.

Herbie Taylor followed that in the second Test with scores of 9 and 68 as England narrowly won by one wicket.

The fourth Test was drawn, Herbie Taylor scored 11 at number four and when moved back as opener in the second innings made 101.

Wisden wrote: "Herbie Taylor, who hit out freely when fear of defeat had gone, played a masterly game, but he had a little luck".

Herbie Taylor finished the series with 582 runs at 64.66 and was the highest scorer on either side, his total was 278 more than the next South African.

Herbie Taylor shared 54 and 99 run partnerships with Bob Catterall as South Africa averted a third consecutive innings defeat however they still lost by nine wickets.

Rain affected the final two Tests of the series and both were drawn, Herbie Taylor scored 18 not out at Old Trafford and 11 at The Oval.

Herbie Taylor had a successful first season with his new side, captaining them to win the Currie Cup and scoring 344 runs at an average of 68.80.

Herbie Taylor was no longer captain, having been replaced by Nummy Deane, but he showed himself to still be the country's leading batsman by top scoring in the series.

Herbie Taylor made another fifty in the third Test before scoring a first innings century in the fourth that played a crucial part in South Africa winning the match by four wickets and keeping the series alive.

Herbie Taylor scored 36 and 29 in the fifth and final Test which South Africa won by eight wickets to square the series.

Herbie Taylor ended the series as South Africa's top scorer with 412 although Bob Catterall had a marginally higher average.

Herbie Taylor toured England for a third time in 1929, as part of a young and inexperienced squad he was one of only three players who had toured the country previously.

Herbie Taylor returned for the fourth Test at Old Trafford and played two attacking innings in defeat.

Herbie Taylor missed the first Test which South Africa won by 28 runs.

Herbie Taylor returned for the second at Cape Town and scored a seventh Test century.

Herbie Taylor scored 41 and 47 in the first match at Brisbane and made innings of seven and six in the second at Sydney, South Africa lost both Tests by wide margins.

Herbie Taylor was dismissed for a duck in the first innings and made two in the second.

Herbie Taylor continued to play first-class cricket for a short period.

Herbie Taylor lived in Cape Town near the Newlands ground which was where he died in 1973.

At the time of his retirement Herbie Taylor held a number of South African Test batting records, including most runs, centuries and half-centuries.

Herbie Taylor had most of his success on the matting pitches of South Africa, he averaged 48.80 and scored six of his centuries at home.

Herbie Taylor scored 2,001 of his Test runs at home and this aggregate remained a record until after readmission.

Herbie Taylor scored all of his centuries and accumulated 2,287 runs against that opposition.

Herbie Taylor captained his nation in four series and 18 Tests in total and although he had personal success in averaging 47.96 during this period, the team lost all four series and they won only one Test with him in charge.

However this was indicative of South Africa at the time and during his whole career Herbie Taylor only enjoyed four Test victories, he played a large part in the first two of these scoring centuries in the Johannesburg wins of 1922 and 1928.

Herbie Taylor holds the record for longest time spent as Test captain, he took charge of his first Test on 13 December 1913 and his last on 16 August 1924, a period of 10 years and 251 days.

Herbie Taylor is one of two South African captains to have scored centuries in their first match in charge, the other is Jackie McGlew.

On subsequently calculated world rankings Herbie Taylor reached a peak batting rating of 844, this placed him top of the batting rankings.

Herbie Taylor reached this mark in February 1923 following his innings of 102 in the fifth Test of the home series with England.

Herbie Taylor remained top of the rankings for only a single match but did disturb Jack Hobbs from the top spot, the only person to do so between 1912 and 1928.