Australia v Pakistan: Robert Craddock on the silent victim of Sandpapergate Mark Taylor

Former Test captain Mark Taylor’s administrative career became collateral damage in the wake of Sandpapergate – but the door is quietly opening again, writes Robert Craddock.

Former Test captain Mark Taylor was a silent victim of Sandpapergate but the door is quietly opening for Australia to bring his knowledge back to the game.

Australia secretly approached Taylor several times to be a national selector but the curse of Sandpapergate ruled that out.

At a time when there was huge speculation over whether Australia should overturn David Warner’s leadership ban, Taylor decided he could not possibly consider being a selector because he was on the Cricket Australia board that banned Warner from a leadership role for life in 2018.

There is no doubt Taylor’s administrative career became collateral damage of him being part of the board that handed down the Sandpapergate bans.

It was an exhausting, emotional time not simply for the three men banned but for the board who presided over their futures.

Taylor left the board after a rugged period when there had also been significant tension with the players union over the memorandum of understanding.

Is it time for Mark Taylor to return to Cricket Australia’s front line? Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Warner’s retirement from Test cricket could open the door for Australia to look at luring the well-respected Taylor back to the front line in some form.

Taylor is still close to the game and is in Perth this week commentating on Australia’s seemingly inevitable march toward victory against a fading Pakistan for Triple M.

Australia have won 14 Tests in a row against Pakistan on home soil – and a 15th is on the way against a team struggling to handle the pace and bounce of Australia’s seam attack.

Steve Smith and Cam Bancroft, also banned after Sandpapergate, remain in the thick of things with Bancroft vying to replace Warner for the West Indies series in January.

Bancroft’s chances have been assisted by the fact that Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, both touted as replacements, have all but ruled themselves out to open the innings.

Unless the selectors promote Cameron Green – that’s unlikely – they will choose either Bancroft, Matt Renshaw or Marcus Harris.

Here in Perth Bancroft is seen as the obvious choice and something of a Heartbreak Kid.

You cannot deny that a mountain of Sheffield Shield runs over the past few seasons demand he be considered but his average of 26 after 10 Tests means the selectors feel they do not owe him anything.

Taylor, left, at a press conference in the wake of Sandpapergate. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Cameron Bancroft is in line to replace David Warner at the top of the order. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Bancroft’s initial involvement in Sandpapergate will not be an issue.

But his intimation in an interview last year that more players other than the three who were banned may have known about the use of sandpaper will not help his cause.

It prompted the bowlers to release a statement denying their involvement which seemingly drove a wedge between the powerful bowlers’ cartel and Bancroft.

Given Australia has a five Test series against a mighty Indian side next summer the choice of the replacement opener is one of the most important of recent summers.

Australia is torn over a replacement for Warner.

It loves the thought of promoting someone with Warner like snap and crackle but given Marsh has no interest it may have to go back to a traditional-style opener.

They may not make the pulse rate – but against the wily Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami they might emerge as the best option.