Taylor has mental strength to succeed - Stewart

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Taylor And Bird Enhance Test Claims

Taylor And Bird Enhance Test ClaimsJames Taylor enjoyed playing for his new county against the Australians on day two at Hove.

Australians 366-5d (Smith 102no) v
Sussex 228-5 (Hamilton-Brown 73)
Tour Match, Hove, day two

There were several men who, heading into this match, might have viewed it as something of an audition for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford. James Taylor was aiming to secure his place as next in line of England’s batsmen, while Jackson Bird and Mitchell Starc were seemingly engaged in a bowl-off to find out who would replace the injured James Pattinson, and Nathan Lyon would have been hoping to pile pressure onto Ashton Agar.

All of them either greatly enhanced or pretty much laid to rest their hopes of starting in Manchester on Thursday. Taylor ensured that he will play if Kevin Pietersen fails to recover from his injury, while Jackson Bird leapt ahead of Starc in the pace-bowling race. Lyon and Agar, though, were both mauled by Rory Hamilton-Brown, who hit 73 off only 51 balls, with Lyon’s inferior batting ability surely seeing him continue to lose out to Agar at Old Trafford.

The day began with Steve Smith rubber-stamping his place as Australia’s number five. He brought up three figures in the third over of the day, at which point the Australians declared on 366 for five.

Bird and Starc were then given the new ball and proceeded to deliver opening spells that were entirely different in nature but remarkably similar in result. Both bowled seven overs, with Starc taking one for 16 and Bird two for 16.

That didn’t tell the whole story, however, as Bird was far more threatening and found more movement, while Starc was relatively inaccurate and lucky to benefit from a top-edged hook shot by Michael Yardy. Bird, meanwhile, earnt both of his wickets. He clean-bowled talented Sussex opener Luke Wells for four and then tormented his opening partner Chris Nash before having him caught behind for 27.

That made it 33 for three, but Hamilton-Brown rather changed the complexion of the day by taking a liking to Lyon and Agar. The pair would repeatedly be hit to the boundary and conceded 113 runs from 26 overs for Agar’s sole success, when he finally had Hamilton-Brown caught behind.

A rain delay followed Hamilton-Brown’s departure, with Taylor unbeaten at the crease and joined by Scotland all-rounder Matt Machan. Both were fortunate to still be there, with the former having been dropped by Smith at second slip on 23 and the latter having benefited from a fumble by Matthew Wade when he had yet to score.

The rain relented to allow time for some more play in the evening before arriving once again at around 5.30 pm to bring an early close. Taylor is unbeaten on 64 off 146 balls and has looked fairly assured throughout his innings, surely having done all that was asked of him by the England selectors. He is partnered by Chris Jordan on 23, with Machan having been caught off James Faulkner for 16.

© Cricket World 2013

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Cowan And Taylor Impress on Final Day At Hove

Cowan And Taylor Impress on Final Day At HoveEd Cowan will be eyeing a Test recall after a second innings 77 not out at Hove.

Australians 366-5d & 152-2d drew with
Sussex 368-7 (Taylor 121no, Hamilton-Brown 73)
Tour Match, Hove

The tour match between Sussex and the Australians petered out into the expected draw on the final day at Hove. James Taylor completed his century to cap a good day on which he was named in England’s 14-man squad for the Thursday’s third Ashes Test, while Ed Cowan kept his name in the hat for the tourists with an unbeaten 77 in their second innings.

Sussex, resuming on 228 for five in their first innings, batted on for the full allocation of 100 overs that the playing conditions for this match allowed and went past the Australians’ 366 to finish on 368 for seven. Taylor and Chris Jordan took their overnight sixth-wicket partnership to 82 before the Bajan all-rounder was bowled by Mitchell Starc (2-43) for 47.

Taylor, though, shrugged off the criticism that greeted him from some quarters this morning for the nature of his innings yesterday and brought up three figures. What his detractors fail to realise is that he might not be the most elegant, or even technically correct, of batsman but he makes runs when they matter, as first-class and List A averages of around 50 testify. He can look ungainly at the crease at times, but he has his own method and knows it well.

Following Jordan’s departure, Taylor was joined by debutant wicket-keeper Callum Jackson, who made 26 off 50 balls before giving Nathan Lyon a belated maiden wicket. The Australians’ third spinner and Jackson’s fellow debutant, Ashton Turner, was also given a bowl before the innings was finished and got through four wicket-less overs at a cost of 16 runs.

Usman Khawaja was promoted to open in the tourists’ second innings but made only one before being caught off Lewis Hatchett, who has certainly enhanced his reputation during this match. Hatchett would also dismiss Phil Hughes for 38 before the day was done to end with figures of two for 28 and match figures of 25.4-8-66-4; not too shoddy on a relatively flat pitch.

Cowan finished unbeaten on an unusually fluent 77 off 110 balls and was joined by Matthew Wade, who made up for his first innings failure by ending up on 30 not out.

© Cricket World 2013

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Taylor And Bird Enhance Test Claims

Taylor And Bird Enhance Test ClaimsJames Taylor enjoyed playing for his new county against the Australians on day two at Hove.

Australians 366-5d (Smith 102no) v
Sussex 228-5 (Hamilton-Brown 73)
Tour Match, Hove, day two

There were several men who, heading into this match, might have viewed it as something of an audition for the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford. James Taylor was aiming to secure his place as next in line of England’s batsmen, while Jackson Bird and Mitchell Starc were seemingly engaged in a bowl-off to find out who would replace the injured James Pattinson, and Nathan Lyon would have been hoping to pile pressure onto Ashton Agar.

All of them either greatly enhanced or pretty much laid to rest their hopes of starting in Manchester on Thursday. Taylor ensured that he will play if Kevin Pietersen fails to recover from his injury, while Jackson Bird leapt ahead of Starc in the pace-bowling race. Lyon and Agar, though, were both mauled by Rory Hamilton-Brown, who hit 73 off only 51 balls, with Lyon’s inferior batting ability surely seeing him continue to lose out to Agar at Old Trafford.

The day began with Steve Smith rubber-stamping his place as Australia’s number five. He brought up three figures in the third over of the day, at which point the Australians declared on 366 for five.

Bird and Starc were then given the new ball and proceeded to deliver opening spells that were entirely different in nature but remarkably similar in result. Both bowled seven overs, with Starc taking one for 16 and Bird two for 16.

That didn’t tell the whole story, however, as Bird was far more threatening and found more movement, while Starc was relatively inaccurate and lucky to benefit from a top-edged hook shot by Michael Yardy. Bird, meanwhile, earnt both of his wickets. He clean-bowled talented Sussex opener Luke Wells for four and then tormented his opening partner Chris Nash before having him caught behind for 27.

That made it 33 for three, but Hamilton-Brown rather changed the complexion of the day by taking a liking to Lyon and Agar. The pair would repeatedly be hit to the boundary and conceded 113 runs from 26 overs for Agar’s sole success, when he finally had Hamilton-Brown caught behind.

A rain delay followed Hamilton-Brown’s departure, with Taylor unbeaten at the crease and joined by Scotland all-rounder Matt Machan. Both were fortunate to still be there, with the former having been dropped by Smith at second slip on 23 and the latter having benefited from a fumble by Matthew Wade when he had yet to score.

The rain relented to allow time for some more play in the evening before arriving once again at around 5.30 pm to bring an early close. Taylor is unbeaten on 64 off 146 balls and has looked fairly assured throughout his innings, surely having done all that was asked of him by the England selectors. He is partnered by Chris Jordan on 23, with Machan having been caught off James Faulkner for 16.

© Cricket World 2013

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Suspended Taylor to miss season

Suspended Gloucestershire off-spinner Jack Taylor will not bowl for the first team again this season.

Taylor has been out of action since 28 May after being reported for illegal bowling actions on two separate occasions within a 12-month period.

The 21-year-old is allowed to bat but, as a lower-order batsman, is unlikely to be drafted in from the second XI.

"Jack is progressing very well," director of cricket John Bracewell told BBC Gloucestershire.

"Gloucestershire University tested him last week and he came through that with a pass. We now need to make sure there's scrutiny under pressure.

“It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude ”

Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger on Jack Taylor's suspension "But we're in no hurry and the real view is he won't be playing first-class cricket this year as a bowler."

Prior to his suspension, Taylor, who averages 26.52 with the bat in first-class cricket, played four Division Two games this season, taking six wickets and scoring 178 runs.

Since then he has made 248 runs in nine innings for Gloucestershire's seconds.

But Bracewell added: "People going in ahead of him are getting more runs so it's a competitive field. Our second 11 has been going extremely well this season."

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger was quick to praise Taylor for the way he has handled his suspension.

"It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude," he said.

"He's certainly someone who can cope with the situation well and he's shown that he has, not only when he's played and trained but in the surrounding group.

"He's always upbeat so there's no doubt that once he does get it right he'll be pushing his way back into the team."

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Taylor in 'good place' for England

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell believes James Taylor's form merits a call into England's Ashes squad if Kevin Pietersen misses the third Test because of injury.

Pietersen picked up a left calf strain in the second Test against Australia.

And batsman Taylor, who has played two Test matches, has a Championship average of 58.85 for Notts this season.

"In terms of runs and confidence, he's in a good place [for a call-up]," Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Taylor made scores of 34, 10 and four in his only previous Test experience against South Africa.

"I think England will sit down, make a few phone calls and pick the right batsman for the team.

"His form is good, and it will very much come down to the opinion of the selectors and [England coach] Andy Flower."

The diminutive 23-year-old's previous Test experience came against South Africa last summer, but he has been a leading member of the England Lions squad since then.

"James is still knocking the door down with his runs in county cricket, he's still well thought of at the Lions level and I'm sure it will be a matter of time before he gets a chance again," added Newell.

Taylor's name has also been mentioned by England batting coach Graham Gooch.

Asked about Pietersen's fitness, Gooch said: "The selectors will decide if they need cover, I'm confident there's some good talent.

"James Taylor made his England debut last year and showed up pretty well at Headingley, Nick Compton has been in the side this winter, and there will be one or two others who have done well for the Lions so they will have to look at the possible options."

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