``It was a tough call. But for the sake of the game, he has made the right decision,'' Border, scorer of 11174 runs, told Dawn in an exclusion interview.

West Indies's legendary and athletic bowler, Michael Holding, said: ``Last evening, I thought Mark Taylor would go for the world record. Certainly, if I had been in his position, I would have definitely gone for it because it's an opportunity that does not come every day. ``He has really surprised me.''

``I don't think it was a good decision to make but it was a very brave one,'' Ramiz Raja, former Pakistan captain believed.

But Allan Border, under whose captaincy Taylor began his international career and also succeeded him four years ago on the tour of Pakistan, was full of praise for his successor.

``I think more Test captains should know Mark Taylor's attitude that (for him) game comes first. He always plays to win the matches and he has made the very unselfish decision sensing Australia's best chances of winning the Test and the series,'' Border, now an Australian selector, remarked.

``There must have been suggestions from his team-mates that he should bat on and try and get the required 42 runs. For the sake of the game, he has made a very brave decision,'' Border said.

Border opined that Taylor would never regret throwing away an opportunity of breaking the world record.

``I think Mark (Taylor) is sort of a thinker that he has now equal Sir Donald Bradman's (highest Test score). And throughout cricket talking and discussions in the future, he will always be likened with Sir Donald Bradman.

``He is quite happy with that situation. He never thought that he would get an opportunity to score a triple century. So he is happy in that respect.

``If the game petters out into a draw, he would reflect back and say he should have batted for half an hour or so on the third morning. But he would still prefer a victory for the country over his personal triumph,'' Border observed.

However, Border said had he been the captain and one of his batsmen was overnight batting on 334 with three days of cricket still to be played, he would have given him 30 minutes to get the runs.

``I would have told him whatever you do, you have 30 minutes and after that we would call off the game. But I would have definitely given him a chance to cross 375.

``But had I been batting, I would have taken the decision which Mark Taylor has taken,'' said a soft-spoken Border.

Michael Holding, West Indies giant fast bowler of yesteryear, said it was a very peculiar question what he felt about the West Indies still having that record.

``Certainly, any West Indian holding a world record is always something which you can be proud of.

``But as far as Mark Taylor is concerned, what is very important for Australia is that they haven't won a Test series in Pakistan for 39 years. Taylor wants to make sure that it's on cards by giving his team an opportunity to do that,'' Holding, who captured 249 wickets in 60 Tests, said.

``It was a once in a life-time opportunity for Taylor. Most of the batsmen don't even get this. In this background, I was surprised. But as he said, he thought more of his team than himself.''

Holding was of the view that Taylor would not regret this decision because most of the Australians always think about the team before they think about themselves. ``And that's precisely why most of the Australians don't hold world records.''

Holding thought that once Taylor made that decision, he knew what options he had before him. ``He knew that he can win the Test and the match can even fizzle out into a draw. But he decided to take a chance and win the Test.''

David Hookes felt that the post of Australian captaincy was very important back home and the skipper is supposed to do it for team's reasons and not own's reasons.

``Had I been batting at 334 and the skipper had announced the declaration, I would not have felt dejected. I don't think you play for world records. I think world records come about in right situations but in this situation, Australia are desperately trying to win the match and the series,'' Hookes remarked.

Hookes admitted that the Australians take more pride in bracketing themselves with Sir Donald Bradman rather than creating world records.

Ramiz Raja said Australians always play to win ``and probably that was the only thing at the back of Taylor's mid. His team-mates tried to talk him out this morning but he had made his decision last night and stuck to it.''

Raja said Taylor's decision spoke of the overall team spirit and character of the side. ``This speaks volumes of how they play their cricket and what they want to achieve.

``It is a decision which should be praised rather than made into a controversial one,'' said Raja.

``I would have felt very bad had my captain declared the innings if the world record had been in my sight. But had I been the captain, I would have given him the time to achieve the landmark,'' Raja, a scorer of 2,883 runs, said.

Mike Coward, Australia's leading cricket columnist and a literary award winner, said Taylor had a difficult last night when he talked to his players what he should do as he has always been a consensus captain. ``The players wanted him to take the decision,'' Coward said.

Coward, who has covered almost every Test Australia has played in the last two decades, said when Taylor go to his bed he had decided to chase the record. ``He woke up after mid-night and kept on thinking what he should do. But when he woke up to begin the day, he decided to declare the innings and stick to the game plan which was that they would not bat for more than two days.''

Coward recalled that in 1946-47, Sid Barnes admitted that he got deliberately out at 234 ``because Sir Donald Bradman had also scored 234. I am sure Taylor didn't do it deliberately but for the rest of his life he will take pride to be bracketed with Sir Don Bradman.''