Taylor — the OG dual World Cup star

Like many people these days, Clare Taylor keeps one eye on the football World Cup in North America and the other, closer home, on the Women’s T20 World Cup here in England.

But unlike others – all bar one – she has played in both the World Cups. The incredible Ellyse Perry is well-known for scoring a stunning goal at the 2011 World Cup in Germany, and has won eight cricket World Cups as part of the Australian team.

Taylor was the first one to do it. She played for England at the 1995 World Cup in Sweden. That was two years after she won the cricket World Cup at home. She went on to play four more World Cups.

She is very much part of this T20 World Cup, too. She is working with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit.

“It is nice to be associated with cricket and being recognised officially for women like me who played the sport when there was no money or publicity,” Taylor told The Hindu. “I have enjoyed this T20 World Cup, though I am a traditionalist and prefer Test cricket. Well, there was no T20 cricket when I was playing. It is amazing to see the girls get so many opportunities.”

She played as a defender for England. And what happened at that World Cup in Sweden? “We did what England do: we lost to Germany,” she says with a straight face. “Gender is no bar when it comes to the football World Cup. We had four teams in our group and we got through to the quarterfinals, where we met Germany.”

Taylor had to eventually leave football and concentrate on cricket, as overseas tours, such as the ones to India, lasted long. So she has, of course, achieved more on the cricket pitch.

A lethal pace bowler, Taylor took 127 international wickets. But one of her most cherished memories is about her batting.

“In the Hyderabad Test against India in 1995, I saved the match batting at No. 11, by playing out for nearly two hours,” she says with a proud smile. “Most people saw me go in at 11 and I am sure they were packing the bags thinking it was going to be over soon.

“Debra Stock was my partner and we frustrated the Indian bowlers, who were laughing and joking. Then they were saying, Purni (Purnima Rao) get her out.”

Purnima couldn’t. Taylor remained nine not out, off 101 balls.