Ashton Agar is particularly likeable, mainly due to the first impressions rule. How could you not love a guy who played as he did in his Test debut, making 98 batting at number 11? The following year, over 400 baby boys in Australia were named Ashton. It is highly likely that at least some of these children were named after AC Agar.

What does this have to do with Taylor Swift?

How about we think a bit more deeply about this, shall we?

Taylor Alison Swift came into the world in December 1989, and according to the highly reliable Wikipedia profile, the famous American singer-songwriter was named after music legend James Taylor.

I propose another potentially ambitious and less likely argument that TA Swift may have been named after MA Taylor, who made his test debut in 1989 and left an enduring impression with the bat on the 1989 Ashes Tour.

Could Mr and Mrs Swift have followed the Ashes closely from their Wyomissing home in Pennsylvania?

Is it possible that the media and general population may have overlooked the slim chance that Mark Taylor was the real reason for the naming of Taylor Swift?

Could they foresee that the left-hand opening batter would become a future Australian Test captain and had leadership aspirations for their daughter?

We are all aware that this would not be the first time there has been speculation around whether the selectors had the correct Taylor; ‘Peter Who’ anyone?

Let’s explore this further, shall we?

James Taylor’s middle name is Vernon; if Mr and Mrs Swift were such big fans of JV Taylor, why not utilise a middle name starting with V for their daughter? There are plenty of suitable options, such as Veronica, Venus, Vanessa, Vera and Victoria, to name just five. The fact that they opted for Alison as the middle name strengthens the case for her being named after MA Taylor.

The other question left lingering in my heart is nature versus nurture. If Taylor grew up assuming that she was named after a famous singer-songwriter, would that influence her to become the music personality she is today?

If in her childhood, her parents had shown her VHS tapes of the 1989 Ashes series and waxed lyrical about Mark’s majestic 219 at Nottingham, could we potentially have seen her develop a love of the summer game? Better still, what if her parents had gifted her a Symonds Grand Monarch cricket bat for her birthday instead of guitar lessons?

To leave you with the most indisputable evidence, there are clues in some of the track names from her album called 1989 that I cannot but assume TA Swift is secretly a cricket fan.

1. Welcome to New York – Surely, this song is referencing the first international cricket match played in Manhattan in 1844
2. Style – Name a member of the 1989 Australian Ashes team that did not possess style in spades.
3. Out of the Woods – A tribute to English willow.
4. All you had to do was stay – Taylor showed empathy for the 13 Englishmen that only played one Test in the 1989 campaign.
5. Shake it off – Her method for combating sledging.
6. Wildest Dreams – A tribute to all players with their names etched on the honour board at Lord’s.
7. How You Get The Girl – This references the GD Campbell wedding proposal from the balcony at Lord’s.
8. This Love – A simple statement about her love of the summer game.

These are only the prominent examples; I am sure for the more profound thinkers out there, it would not be hard to find other links to Taylor Swift’s songs and cricket.

In the famous words of Dennis Denuto in The Castle, “I rest my case.”

Adrian Griffith on Cricket, Identity & Life Beyond the Game – The Cricket Library

Former West Indies opening batter, Adrian Griffith joins the Cricket Library Podcast for a fascinating and deeply reflective conversation about cricket, identity, purpose, and life beyond the game. Growing up in Barbados, Adrian rose through Caribbean cricket to become an opening batter for the West Indies cricket team during one of the most compelling eras in world cricket. He shares stories from his early journey into first-class cricket, touring Australia, facing elite fast bowling, and the pressures that come with representing the maroon cap at the highest level. One of the highlights of the episode is Adrian reflecting on his remarkable Test match against New Zealand, where he became the first West Indian cricketer to bat on all five days of a Test match — a rare and unique achievement in cricket history. Adrian also revisits the unforgettable Test against Australia where Brian Lara produced one of the greatest innings the game has ever seen, offering incredible insight into Lara’s brilliance and the atmosphere surrounding that iconic moment in cricket and the story behind his selection in the team. Beyond the playing field, Adrian discusses his transition into officiating as an ICC match referee and his current work with AGC, where he continues contributing to leadership, mentoring, and the development of people within and beyond cricket. While the conversation celebrates Test cricket, West Indies history, and unforgettable moments, it also explores a deeper theme — that achievements on the field do not fully define a person’s worth. Adrian shares thoughtful reflections on transition, identity, leadership, and building a meaningful life beyond cricket. Topics include: • The significance of the Maroon West Indies Cricket Cap • Touring Australia • Batting on all five days of a Test match • Test cricket pressures • Caribbean cricket culture • ICC match refereeing • Leadership and mentoring • AGC and life after cricket • Purpose and identity beyond sport If you love cricket history, long-form conversations, and powerful human stories from inside the game, this episode is for you.

1. Adrian Griffith on Cricket, Identity & Life Beyond the Game 52:00
2. Babette de Leede – World Cup & Global Cricket Journey 40:43
3. Paul Harris – The Journey of a Proteas Spinner 43:12
4. Paul Van Meekeren – Associate Cricket To World Stage 50:16
5. Ken Piesse – A Life In Cricket Writing 47:06