AB was probably the most singled-minded of them all, probably based on the fact he played during Australia's lowest ebb and then worked his hardest to get the team back to the top. Ponting and Waugh have been in charge during Australia's dominance in the last eight years or so. But they inherited a team that had already claimed the top spot. The man who set that chain of events off was Mark Taylor, close to, if not already, Australia's greatest test captain.

Taylor inherited a strong team from Allan Border that had established itself well and then set the wheels in motion to make that squad invincible. During his time Warne and McGrath came of age, players such as Steve Waugh came into their prime, and they churned out talent at a time that could have enabled two strong Australian teams to run around.

Taylor was the most balanced captain of the four. He was bright, energetic, generous and highly diplomatic. At the same time he could also be utterly ruthless without being downright cruel. He was immensely respected for his courage and tenacity, and tactically he was not merely astute, but can be considered one of the finest visionaries of his time.

Taylor did what no Australian skipper had done since Ian Chappell in 1972-73 and toppled the West Indies in the West Indies, thus establishing themselves as the undoubted world champions, a position they still hold. He is held is such high regard by those he led that they consider him the finest captain they have played under. Such a credit is not to be taken lightly in Australia's golden era, but it could go to no better player than the lad from Wagga Wagga.