Mark Anthony Taylor is a former Australian cricketer and current Nine Network commentator. He was the captain of the Australian squad which finished as runners-up at the 1996 Cricket World Cup.

The 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup Final was a cricket match played to determine the winner of the sixth installment of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The match was played on 17 March 1996 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan. In 1996 the stadium had a capacity of about 60,000 spectators and was hosting a final for the first time. The match was contested between former World Cup winners Australia, who were considered the favourites and Sri Lanka. It was Australia's third World Cup final appearance after their win in the 1987 edition and the loss to West Indies in the 1975 ICC Cricket World Cup final. It was Sri Lanka's first final appearance.