Allan (Robert) Border - World records held at the time of his retirement, Reference

Cricketer, born in Sydney, New South Wales, SE Australia. Educated in Sydney, he became a professional cricketer in 1977, made his Test debut against England in 1978–9, and was captain 1984–94. The Australian team regained much of its lustre under his leadership, regaining the Ashes in 1989 and retaining them in 1990–1 and 1993. A left-hander, he was Australia's most prolific batsman since Don Bradman, and on his retirement in 1994 held Test records for the most Test appearances (156), and having captained Australia in more Tests than anyone (93). His most outstanding achievement is as the highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket: in 1993 he beat Sunil Gavaskar's record with 10 123 runs, and he increased this record to a final 11 174 runs. His record was broken in 2006 by West Indian Brian Lara. Border was Australian of the Year in 1990.

He played 156 Tests in his career, a record until it was passed by another Australian (and in some senses protégé of Border), Steve Waugh. Border still retains the world record for the number of consecutive test appearances and the number of tests as captain. In his 156 tests Border amassed 11,174 runs (also a world record at the time of his retirement, but since surpassed by Brian Lara) at an average of 50.56.

Border was a member of the Australian side in the famous 1981 Ashes series against England, when they were seemingly defeated single-handedly by Ian Botham (and on one occasion Bob Willis.

As a batsman, Border's finest hour possibly came in a 1983/4 tour of West Indies, then the world's leading Test side, with a formidable array of fast bowlers. Early on in his tenure, Border received a severe blow when members of what he considered a promising young side announced they would tour South Africa as a rebel Australian side, despite knowing that this would lead to a ban from international cricket.

Nevertheless, Border and Simpson would go on to mould a formidable side including such future players as Steve Waugh and, towards the end of Border's career, Shane Warne. Their first notable success was winning the 1987 World Cup, and in Test cricket the 1989 Ashes series, won by Australia 4-0 (Australia also won most of the One-Day cricket matches during the tour).

Ultimately, Border left his successor Mark Taylor with a side that would go on to be the best in the world under Taylor's captaincy.

World records held at the time of his retirement

top run scorer at 11,174 runs, a record held until November 2005, when it was passed by the West Indian Brian Lara (see: List of Test cricket records) most Test matches played (156) and most consecutive Test matches played (153).

After he retired from Test cricket he played in Queensland's maiden Sheffield Shield win, was named 12th man in Australia's Team of the Century, and became an Australian selector. The Australian Player of the Year now receives the Allan Border Medal with the inaugural Allan Border Medal being won by Glenn McGrath in 2000.

Two cricket fields have been renamed in Border's honour. The first is in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney, and is the home ground of the Mosman District Cricket Club for whom Border played club cricket before his move to Queensland.

Preceded by: Kim Hughes	Australian Test cricket captains 1984/5-1993/4	Succeeded by: Mark Taylor
Preceded by: David Hookes	Australian One-day International cricket captains 1984/5-1993/4	Succeeded by: Ray Bright
Preceded by: Kay Cottee	Australian of the Year 1989	Succeeded by: Fred Hollows

Reference

^ Ashes 1989