Bob Taylor (cricketer)
Robert William Taylor , known as Bob Taylor, is a former English cricketer who played as wicketkeeper for Derbyshire between 1961 and 1984 and for England between 1971 and 1984. He made 57 Test, and 639 first class cricket appearances in total, taking 1,473 catches. The 2,069 victims across his entire career is the most of any wicketkeeper in history. He is considered as one of the worlds most accomplished wicketkeepers. He made his first class debut for Minor Counties against South Africa in 1960, having made his Staffordshire debut in 1958. He became Derbyshires first choice wicketkeeper when George Dawkes sustained a careerending injury. His final First Class appearance was at the Scarborough Festival in 1988. He remained first choice until his retirement except for a short period in 1964 when Laurie Johnson was tried as a batsmanwicketkeeper.
Taylor was born in StokeonTrent, Staffordshire. He began cricketing early, keeping wicket in a car park next to Stoke City Football Clubs home ground, before playing for his schools Under15 XI aged 12. He also was on the books of Port Vale F.C. as an apprentice, though he never played football professionally. Atyears he played for Bignall End Cricket Club in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League and for Staffordshire in the Minor Counties cricket league. On his debut he was confused for a spectator because of his youth. He continued playing for Staffordshire from 1958 to 1960, whereupon he moved to Derbyshire and joined the Second XI of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
Source: Wikipedia