AT THE rate he is going, promising fast bowler Jerome Taylor should be in Jamaica's senior squad for the 2003 competitions, or play for the West Indies 'B' team, which will also take part in the regional first class tournament set to start on January 31.
The 19-year-old St. Elizabeth Senior Cup pacer burst on the regional scene during this year's West Indies Under-19 cricket tournament, against Guyana at Kensington Park.
His chance came with a degree of luck, but he clutched it with both hands after being drafted in at the expense of an injured Jowayne Robinson. Taylor, who represents Headley Cup champs STETHS, had not played in Jamaica's two opening games but became an automatic choice when Robinson got injured.
He went on to claim 11 wickets in the two matches he played, four against Guyana and seven against Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-finals to emerge joint second highest wicket-taker in Jamaica's team with fellow STETHS player, off-spinner Wayne Simpson. That performance earned him a place in a 14-man West Indies Under-19 cricket squad.
Nicknamed 'Rex', he recently participated in a West Indies fast bowling clinic supervised by Andy Roberts with assistance from coach Kenny Benjamin in Antigua.
Upon his return, One on One caught up with Taylor at Jamaica's second practice match at Kensington Park last Thursday.
Question: Which aspect of your bowling was given most attention at the fast bowling clinic?
Jerome Taylor: I did a lot of work on my run-up. The coaches there said I was leaning away during my run-up.
Q: Do you think leaning away had any thing to do with you not bowling faster and getting more wickets?
JT: No. I don't think leaning away has anything to do with my speed. However, I think it contributed in me getting less wickets. The more upright you stay I believe you get the ball to do more.
Q: What did you learn at the fast bowling clinic?
JT: We learnt the art of fast bowling. They thought us how to correct our problems, which came with a little walk and bowl instead of running at the start.
Q: What can we expect from you over the next two years?
JT: Basically, what you can expect from me is to give it my all whenever I am playing. At the same time I will also be looking to get into the senior team.
Q: What do you think have you possess that other fast bowlers your age don't have?
JT: A lot of them don't have the consistency, the accuracy and the speed that I have.
Q: How much did you learn from West Indies pacers Reon King and Adam Sanford at the fast bowling clinic?
JT: It was a great experience being among those guys because they showed me a lot. They taught me how to keep my composure especially in a pressure situation.
Q: How many wickets did you get for St. Elizabeth Technical in the Headley Cup?
JT: In my first year at Headley Cup I picked up 17 wickets and this year I took 40.
Q: Were you disappointed to be left out of Jamaica's first two under-19 games in the regional tournament earlier this year?
JT: I wasn't all that disappointed because I knew the selectors had to play what they considered the best possible team. However, after that I proved them wrong when I got my chance.
- Anthony Foster
