I was cheered by the news of James Taylor's elevation to the England Test squad. Two years too late, but the best things come to those who wait, as someone - probably my Mum! - once said. As another fully paid-up member of the sub- 5ft 6 club, I take even greater pleasure at seeing a shorty make the grade. These days every athlete seems to be at least 6 feet tall, an image enhanced by watching the Olympics this past week. It'll be the gymnasts next.
Taylor debuted for Leicestershire four years ago as a promising under-19 international and the following year enjoyed a prolific season in the Championship. He was promoted to the Lions squad under James Hildreth's captaincy but, while the Somerset batsman immediately lost form in the domestic game, Taylor continued to plough a lone furrow in Leicestershire's feeble batting line-up and won the prestigious Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year award. He thus followed in the famous footsteps of stars such as Boycott (yes, even he was young once!), Atherton, Flintoff, Broad, Cook and even Andrew Symonds before he opted for the 'baggy green'.
In 2010, I advocated his selection for the full England side to face Pakistan but predictably Miller and co went for the safe option by nipping down to Lord's and recalling Eoin Morgan at number six. To the latter's credit, he scored a century but has since shown he is not a natural at first-class cricket. After trying his hardest at Leicester, the diminutive batsman understandably accepted a move up the M1 to title contenders Nottinghamshire. However, until last week's 163 not out against Sussex he had shown little form in the four-day format while, ironically, excelling in the Pro40 competition.
With England enjoying huge success, he needed to be patient. Still only 22, Taylor's fortune has come at the expense of Jonny Bairstow (Young Player of the Year, 2011) and Ravi Bopara (ditto, 2008) and it is especially sad that the Essex man has pulled out for personal, non-cricketing reasons. If Taylor succeeds this week at Headingley, it could be a while before Bopara gets another chance. However, cricket can be fickle. After all, the world was Ravi's oyster after his three successive Test centuries a few seasons back, but then came his fall from the summit.
In the past thirty years or so, only Paul Franks and Adil Rashid has won the YPOTY accolade without progressing to win a Test cap so it was always likely that James Taylor would get the nod eventually. His batting average is nigh on 50. Even allowing for the fact that many of his 5,244 runs have come in the second tier of domestic cricket, that is still an impressive statistic. His List A average is almost as good, although he has yet to create a truly memorable innings in Twenty 20. The number six berth is a difficult one. With good players ahead of you, it can be difficult to stay focussed in the pavilion and there are few opportunities to forge a major score. With Steyn, Morkel and Philander champing at the bit, he will surely face a barrage of top-class fast bowling but Taylor is nothing if not a calm character at the crease. I hope he rises to the challenge.
