By Paul Grunill

TAYLOR'S WORLD CUP CAREER CRICKET 1988: 1 wicket in 2 games; England lost to Australia in final 1993: 14 wickets in 8 games @ 11.42; England beat NZ in final 1997: 5 wickets in 7 games @ 22.20; England lost to NZ in semi-finals 2000: 14 wickets in 7 games @ 10.85; England failed to reach last four FOOTBALL 1995: England lost to Germany in quarter-finals

If things go according to plan, England cricketer Clare Taylor will take part in her sixth World Cup in South Africa next March.

She shares the distinction, along with Namibia's rugby playing seamer Rudi van Vuuren, of having played in a World Cup in two different sports.

In 1995, she played for England at the women's football showpiece in Sweden.

But it proved to be her international swansong as she chose instead to focus her energies on a cricket career which, two years earlier, saw her take 2-27 from 12 overs as England beat New Zealand at Lord's to lift the trophy.

It is no surprise that it remains the highlight of a World Cup journey which has so far also taken her to Australia (1988), India (1997) and New Zealand (2000).

"It didn't sink in for four or five months afterwards - the enormity of winning a World Cup," she recalls.

"I remember in particular our game against the Aussies. Carole Hodges scored a ton that day.

"She was so technically correct, they set a 7-2 field to her in the hope she'd play through the off-side and to see her flicking the ball through mid-wicket with no fielders there was brilliant.

"Although it was great to win the final, I think we all knew were going to win that final after we'd beaten the Aussies.

I want to play for England, I want to do my best - that's what keeps me going Clare Taylor

If 1993 was the high point for Yorkshire's Taylor, the last tournament four years ago was a definite low despite emerging as England's leading wicket-taker.

Having beaten South Africa at home the previous summer, England unexpectedly succumbed to the same opponents and also lost to India, Australia and New Zealand as they failed to reach the last four.

"The preparation was as good as its ever been. We just never got going. I don't think the blend we had in the squad was that great," she said.

Having been an ever present for so many years, the 39-year-old now finds her place under threat from talented youngsters like Jenny Gunn, Isa Guha and most recently Kathryn Brunt.

It is challenge she relishes.

"I think they've got to prove they're better than me. They've got to come and take my place, rather than me give it them on a plate. I think it keeps them on their toes a little bit."

Taylor (right) shares a few thoughts with Darren Gough in 2001

A former postwoman, Taylor divides her spare off-field time between working in schools, driving jobs and occasional speaking engagements.

She know she is nearing the end of a career which has also brought her an MBE and an honorary masters degree for services to sport.

"There are two options - I'll either know myself that I can't keep up with the youngsters any more and I haven't got the ability to do the things I used to do or I'll get a phone call from the coach saying 'Thanks, but no thanks. We're looking to the future'.

Taylor will find out if she has made England's squad of 14 on 4 January and she is "quietly confident" about the team's chances in the tournament.

"Now is as good a chance as any to win it again," she said.

"If we don't get to the final I'll be very disappointed and in a one-off game, possibly against the Aussies, it's who raises their game on the day."