Date-stamped : 08 Mar97 - 22:29 8 March 1997 Taylor`s back is worrying Australia By Peter Deeley in East London MARK TAYLOR, Australia`s captain, injured his back during warm-up for the tourists game with Border here yesterday and could miss next week`s second South Africa Test starting on Friday. Taylor, 32, needed a back operation less than a year ago and there is concern in the Australian camp about his long-term fu- ture should more surgery be necessary. He pulled out of the game and went instead to see an orthapaedic surgeon. Taylor said later that X-rays had not shown any damage. "I am hopeful it is nothing serious. I was just running around when I suddenly felt something go. The specialist said he thought it was some soft tissue damage but nothing to do with a bone." Taylor underwent keyhole surgery last August and missed Australia`s tour of Sri Lanka. He was walking very gingerly yes- terday and clearly in some pain. After South Africa, Australia go home for three weeks before com- ing to England for the summer`s Ashes series. Taylor`s leadership would be badly missed if further back problems prevented him go- ing on that tour. Ian Healy, the present vice-captain, has indicated he does not want to take over permanently and the mantle would probably fall on Steve Waugh, who is said to be keen on the job. Meanwhile, Jason Gillespie took a career-best seven for 34 as the tourists put Border in on a damp pitch and bowled them out in 3.25 hours for 117. Peter Kirsten, now 41, scored only seven in the last game of his 24th year in the game before he was caught at slip off Paul Reif- fel. The quick bowler was making his come-back after injury ear- lier on the tour which kept him out of the reckoning for the first Test. By the close of the first day, Australia were already in a com- manding position on 206 for five when bad light stopped play. Tour match (1st day of 3).- East London: Border 117 (J N Gil- lespie 7-34); Australians 206-5 (M E Waugh 62). Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)