Nationality: England
Position: Allrounder
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Left Arm Fast
Date of Birth: 1994-07-08 Age: 30
Born on the 8th of July, 1994, Matthew Taylor emerged from the quaint cricketing fields of Somerset, moulded by the undulating landscapes that fostered many a talented player. From his early days wielding a bat in his local club’s junior ranks, it was clear that Taylor had a unique spark. His appetite for the game developed rapidly as he played on the sun-kissed grounds of Taunton, making a name for himself as a tenacious allrounder with a deft right-handed batting technique and a fearsome left-arm fast bowling approach.
Taylor's professional debut came in the summer of 2014, playing for Somerset in the County Championship. From the onset, it was evident he wasn’t your typical debutant. His maiden innings crafted a stubborn 65 not out against seasoned county bowlers, foreshadowing the combative spirit he would become known for. It was, however, with the ball that Taylor carved a notable niche, his left-arm deliveries swinging menacingly through the English air, leaving batsmen flummoxed and edging to slips with alarming regularity.
Over the years, Taylor's list of achievements grew impressively. 2017 was a standout season as he played a pivotal role in leading Somerset to their first County Championship title in 38 years. Crucially, his allround performance in the title-deciding match against Surrey—scoring a gritty half-century followed by a five-wicket haul—became a cornerstone moment of the championship run.
Among his career highlights, a dramatic T20 victory against arch-rivals Gloucestershire in the 2019 Blast series stands particularly memorable. Taylor’s blistering final over, where he defended a mere nine runs, was a testament to his nerves of steel.
Taylor’s playing style combines patience and aggression, traits that seem almost contradictory but are elegantly balanced in his game. His ability to shift gears seamlessly gives him that invaluable edge, particularly in tight matches when the stakes soar high. His bowling, often clocked beyond 145 km/h, is marked by a sharp, deceptive bounce—an innate ability that has drawn comparisons to some of the great fast bowlers of the game.
More than just his records and victories, it’s Matthew Taylor's indomitable spirit and passion for cricket that make him a cherished figure in Somerset and beyond, leaving an indelible impact on the modern game. The tales of his on-field rivalries, particularly with Gloucestershire's top order, keep adding layers to an already fascinating career.
Batting Stats
| Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 6s | 4s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3.00 | 5 | 60.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 124 | 27 | 5.90 | 111 | 111.71 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| 4day | 18 | 28 | 7 | 278 | 56 | 9.93 | 804 | 34.58 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 34 |
| List A | 8 | 7 | 2 | 110 | 51 | 15.71 | 118 | 93.22 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
Bowling Stats
| Format | Mat | Inns | Wkts | Runs | Overs | Ave | Econ | Wide | NoBall | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 5 | 5 | 5 | 179 | 37 | 35.80 | 4.84 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 39 | 39 | 47 | 1095 | 135.3 | 23.30 | 8.09 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4day | 19 | 31 | 47 | 2285 | 503.7 | 48.62 | 4.54 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 12 | 12 | 17 | 407 | 91.5 | 23.94 | 4.45 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: 2024-09-14
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