Until 1978 it looked as if Bob Taylor was going to be one of those unlucky wicket-keepers who, despite recognition from their peers, would not get a distinguished international career. Alan Knott was the England wicket-keeper and looked likely to remain so until after Taylor reached retirement age. Some reckoned Taylor was slightly the better 'keeper, but Knott, at times England's best batsman, always took precedence over Taylor, a gutsy tail-ender. Taylor had been Knott's understudy on several tours and had even been given a consolation Test in New Zealand after Ray Illingworth's successful Ashes campaign of 1970-71. His chance came when Knott joined World Series Cricket in 1977. By then Taylor had been playing county cricket for 16 years and his hair had turned grey. He kept against Pakistan and New Zealand in 1977-78. He even made a contribution with the bat, scoring an unexpected 97 in the second innings at Adelaide on the Ashes tour of 1978-79. He also made 64 against India at Lord's in 1979. The deadly outswinger of Ian Botham helped Taylor to take ten catches in Bombay, as Mhumbai was then known, in India's Jubilee Test of 1979-80. Eight of them were off Botham and seven in one innings. In the 1980 series against West Indies Taylor found himself supplanted by the returning Knott. In the 1981 Ashes series he shared 'keeping duties with Paul Downton and Knott, but played in Botham's match at Headingley, taking four catches in Australia's second innings of 111. In the World Cup of 1979 he scored 20 not out in the low scoring match at Headingley against Pakistan, which England won by 14 runs. (Bob Harragan)