Taylor has abandoned his hit and hope approach to become a ‘proper’ player
Richard Latham recounts how a Gloucestershire allrounder has developed from being just a big-hitter
Jack Taylor must wish Gloucestershire played every County Championship game at Cheltenham. Two years ago the 25-year-old all-rounder marked the annual Festival with what remains his careerbest score of 156 against Northamptonshire.
And this time around Taylor showed his affection for the picturesque College Ground by taking 143 off the Worcestershire attack, rescuing his side from a sizeable first innings hole at 129-5 when he walked out at No.7.
Sadly, an absorbing contest was condemned to finish as a draw by the heavy rain that allowed only 15.3 overs to be bowled on day three.
But Gloucestershire ended up in the ascendancy, having beaten Glamorgan inside two days in their other Festival Championship match.
“All the players enjoy Cheltenham each year,” said Taylor. “I love batting here and the Festival has been very good to me.
“The innings against Northants was my best in terms of runs scored, but this one gave me as much pleasure as any of my five first-class hundreds because we were in a sticky situation when I went in.
“The pitch did a bit for the seamers, so it wasn’t easy. There was nip and extra bounce now and then.” Taylor’s 170ball innings, including 20 fours and a six, was more evidence to support the view that he can be much more than a renowned big-hitter in one-day games. “I want to contribute with both bat and ball in four-day cricket,” he said. “My batting has come on and I am starting to make more regular contributions.
“The belief is there that I can make more and bigger hundreds to ensure a decent average in the Championship.”
That will delight Gloucestershire skipper Phil Mustard, who sees Taylor as a key figure in his plans to make the county genuine candidates for promotion over the next couple of years.
Mustard said: “Jack Taylor is really growing in his role as a No.7 and is starting to look like a proper batsman.
“Not so long ago he was going in and trying to swing at every ball. Now he has worked out his natural game and is beginning to dominate teams without taking as many risks.”
Mustard took on the captaincy when Gareth Roderick was ruled out by early season illness and is now expected to stay in charge for at least the remainder of this season.
WORCESTERSHIRE cricket director Steve Rhodes and Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson had opposing views over the conclusion of a match ruined by third day rain.
While Rhodes felt the home side could have set up a decent finish by declaring earlier, Dawson maintained a more cavalier approach from his batsmen at the start of the final day would have played into Worcestershire’s hands.
As it was, the visitors were the ones who came under pressure, slipping to 5-3, having been given a minimum of 52 overs to score an unlikely 370. It took a quality innings from Joe Clarke to see them to safety. Would Gloucestershire have won had they given themselves more time to bowl Worcestershire out? The probable answer is ‘no’ with batting becoming easier as the ball went soft.
An excellent Cheltenham pitch allied to a fast outfield ensured the batsmen got full value for their shots. Worcestershire’s Ben Cox and Gloucestershire’s Jack Taylor and Chris Dent capitalised with tons.
The fast bowlers on both sides also impressed although the gentler medium pace of Gloucestershire’s Kieran Noema-Barnett claimed four first innings wickets, his best for the county.