Good news for West Indies

[Milo]

After breaking down after a very impressive tour of Zimbabwe at the start of last year, Jerome Taylor is now back playing for Jamaica. A genuinely fast bowler, with the abiilty to swing the ball both ways, and the ability to go through batting line ups very quickly - still only 20, he looked a better prospect than both Edwards and Lawson when I saw him.

FIRST-CLASS
(2002/03 - 2004/05; last updated 28/02/2005)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 19 25 6 109 23 5.73 0 0 3 0

O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 401 79 1185 55 21.54 8-59 4 2 43.7 2.95

This year he has already hit good form with match figures of 7-117 in the last round of first class matches and 21 at under 14 in the whole season. Expect him to play in the test series in April and May.

[Maranello]

Good news indeed. Where did you see him Milo? And how did he look in terms of pace and control?

[Chuck Palumbo]

WI seem to be producing a good crop of fast bowlers now. Best and Edwards both impressed me in the Carribean against England and there is Lawson who is trying to get back into the groove after injuries and problems with his action and now Taylor who I've heard good reports about.

Add the more experienced bowlers like Collins and Collymore and the WI have the potential of a decent bowling attack. Though it does lack a top class spinner...both Mohammed and Banks don't look up to it but the future is bright for WI in the bowling department, its just a matter of developing them right.

[Zainub]

Is he the same guy that took a sevon for against the Aussies in a home test or was that Lawson?

[Paoli]

Lawson took 7. Did he go to Zimbabwe??? Wasnt aware but Fidel had a great time there. "Fidel, have a cigar", was a headline soon after!!!

Have seen Jerome Taylor, actually on debut vs Sri Lanka 18 months ago and bowled well. Has pace and a bit of control. Prospect.

[Milo]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Good news indeed. Where did you see him Milo? And how did he look in terms of pace and control?

I know the term is often overused Maranello, but the lad is genuinely fast. He pitches the ball up and swings it both ways at pace. The closest West Indies have had to reproducing an Ian Bishop. I saw the only one day match he bowled in against Sri Lanka in 2003 (when only 18) and I liked him.

Here's two matches at random - the tour match in Zimbabwe and the last Carib cup game for Jamaica over the weekend. He hits the stumps, has done for his entire short career and is really the one young bowler who is anywhere neaer likely to be any real good.

http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/...01NOV2003.html

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2...28FEB2005.html

[Ninjaman]

Jerome Taylor is very quick.

In fact, I doubt if there is a faster bowler of the same age ANYWHERE.

However, the likes of Taylor, Best, Edwards and Lawson might look impressive for the first 5 overs but they have to be consistent and just as good on the 90th over of the day and their 20th over bowled.

All of them have broken down with injuries regularly and this is just not right.

Now how can any team progress or any captain and selectors form battle plans when they don't know their attack from game to game??

Ironically, Adam Sanford, the most average (that is code for not very good) of this bunch of recent bowlers is a fine physical specimen and he is the only one I'd back to have the fitness for a long hard series.

Shame he is a runs cart!!

[Milo]

Well, Taylor's just been named in the West Indies team. Expect him to play (probaby with Collins, Collymore and hopefully washington). He just took 4-31 in the Carib Cup final as Jamaica coasted to the title. What more, Chris Gayle just hit two centuries in the match and will be a sorely missed in the test series. Ridley scored another hundred - this guy has scored three centuries in the first class season and is third in the averages. Is there a reason why he didn't regain his place?

I am really looking forward to seeing Taylor bowl - I just hope he keeps injury free. Something tells me he is likely to break down some time in the series though.

[Paoli]

You know that stupid sound you hear on a gameshow when a contestant gets something wrong (BOMP BOM)...Thats the sound we're hearing out of the West Indies, as our very own Nostradamus Milo predicted...Taylor has stiffening of the back and is unavailable for 4-6 weeks...Disappointing.

[Ninjaman]

What did I say about injuries??

Well, better for it to happen know instead of in the actual Test