Wisden overview
Dumped by Derbyshire in 1987 but snaffled by Staffordshire two years later, Taylor's rapid ascent into England's Test side can be traced back to a NatWest Trophy tie in 1990 against Northamptonshire. Taylor took 0-92 with his left-arm seam, but Northants saw through the stats and signed him up for the 1991 season. Eighteen prolific months later he was on his way to India with England, but won just one cap there, on a Calcutta belter. When he was given a second chance, against New Zealand in 1994, it was clear that the captain at the time, Mike Atherton, had little confidence in him, and he returned to county cricket for good. Slightly splay-footed but with a strong open-chested action, Taylor keeps it tight outside off stump and can move the ball both ways. He regularly picks up 50 wickets a season, and remains one of the fittest opening bowlers in the country, despite his age. A dogged county No 8, Taylor helped save a Lord's Test with Steve Rhodes in 1994. Lawrence Booth

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