Taylor suffers from Gloucesterphobia

BRISTOL, May 29: Australian captain Mark Taylor’s Test future was placed in further jeopardy today when he managed only 30 runs against Gloucestershire on the final day of a three-day match here.

Taylor, without a Test 50 in 18 months and an average of only 25.50 during the current tour, was in desperate need of a substantial contribution to cement his spot for the opening Test against England at Edgbaston next week.

Conditions looked ideal for a lengthy occupation of the crease against a friendly attack, on a slow wicket in glorious sunshine. But he added only 11 to his overnight 19 before playing back to spinner Martyn Ball’s arm ball and being adjudged lbw. He failed to score in the first innings.