Record-breaker Taylor lives the dream

Another game, another landmark - Sarah Taylor salutes her team-mates

A Lord's centurion and now the youngest women's player to pass 1,000 runs in one-day cricket - Sarah Taylor is certainly enjoying a summer to remember.

The 19-year-old reached the latest landmark in yesterday's 10-wicket hammering of India at Taunton, tucking away a single to reach the required 16 runs she needed to eclipse the previous record - held by India skipper Mithali Raj, who was 21 years and a week when she brought up the feat.

"I was aware of it at the start of the India series," Taylor told ecb.co.uk.

"It was on my mind and it was making me nervous. I was relieved to get there. I did not celebrate but it was a proud moment for me. Caroline Atkins said 'well done' as she knew what it meant to me, but I knew I still had a job to do. I wanted to get the record and then press on."

The wicketkeeper was true to her word, focusing on the team's goal to finish unbeaten on 75 and help England go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

"My main aim was to see the team through," said Taylor, who averages an impressive 42 in one-day cricket. "Once I got to 16 I could think about the match. It made me more relaxed."

If Taylor continues clocking up the runs at this rate she might end up with more records than her local HMV store.

A firm fixture in the side with 34 ODI caps, it is not inconceivable that the dashing batter could end up overhauling the record tally of 4,844 one-day runs held by Australia's Belinda Clark.

While statisticians might be getting excited by that prospect, Taylor is completely unfazed at the thought and is concentrating solely on scoring runs for England.

Taylor sweeps on the way to an unbeaten 75 yesterday

"It's not a target of mine at the moment," she insisted. "I want to keep playing as I am. There are always things you learn and I am going to keep working hard.

"I'm focusing on finishing the season well. It's been one of the most exciting summers I've been involved in - Lord's, winning against South Africa, winning the Twenty20 and playing against India."

Scoring a hundred at Lord's is often the highlight of any cricketer's career and Taylor is no different. Her moment at the home of cricket came against South Africa on Friday August 8 when, after England had won the toss, she and Atkins smashed centuries as the pair put on a record 268 for the first wicket.

Taylor, whose early hero was Graham Thorpe, eventually finished on 129 which was the second ODI century of her career.

"That was one of the highlights of my career," she said. "I felt shock and amazement when I got to my hundred. It's the sort of thing you dream about but never think you will actually do.

"I want to do it again. I want to beat that and do something special."

It would take a brave person to bet against her.