Picture courtesy of Mick Pope. Former Yorkshire and England all-rounder Ken Taylor.
Ken Taylor, a key player in Yorkshire’s seven Championship title wins between 1959-1968, died on Sunday (September 27) at the age of 91.
He was one of the most versatile and naturally talented sportsmen of his generation, representing Yorkshire and England at cricket, and Huddersfield Town and Bradford Park Avenue at football.
In addition, he was a gifted artist who qualified at Slade School of Fine Arts, London, and was later appointed head of art at Gresham’s School in Norfolk, where he lived until his death.
His elder brother, Jeff, played football for Huddersfield Town, Fulham and Brentford, while Ken’s son, Nick, a pace bowler, played in eight matches for Yorkshire in 1982-1983 before moving on to Surrey and then Somerset.
The 1966 Yorkshire County Cricket Club from left to right (back row) John Waring, Phil Sharpe, Jimmy Binks, Don Wilson, Richard Hutton, Doug Padgett and Geoff Boycott (front row sitting) Ray Illingworth, Brian Close (Captain), Fred Trueman and Ken Taylor on 30th August 1966 at the Kennington Oval, London, England. (Photo by Leonard Burt/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Born in Huddersfield, Ken made his Yorkshire debut as a 17-year-old and soon established himself as a gifted batter, a useful medium-pace bowler and a brilliant fielder.
He was already an important member of the side in 1959 when Yorkshire clinched the Championship under Ronnie Burnet’s captaincy. It was the start of a golden decade of White Rose cricket, and Ken particularly enjoyed himself when Brian Close – another multi-talented sportsman – took over the reins in 1963.
Ken played in 303 first-class matches for Yorkshire, scoring 12,864 runs with 16 centuries, including a career-best 203 not out against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1961.
That was his most successful season when he scored 1,494 runs, and it also included his best bowling figures of 6-75 in the Roses match at Old Trafford.
In all, he captured 129 wickets and claimed 146 catches.
He played in three Test matches for England – twice against India in 1959 and once against Australia in 1964, but he was not at his best and managed only 57 runs.
His football career was played as a defender, with him making more than 250 appearances for hometown team Huddersfield.
A founder member of the Yorkshire CCC Players’ Association, and a club Vice President, Ken leaves a widow, Avril, and two sons, Nick and Cameron.
Words: David Warner.
