Jack Martin Robert Taylor, an English cricket player, was born on August 23, 1991. He is the older brother of Matt Taylor, who is also a seamer at Gloucestershire. Jack Taylor’s career as an offspinner has faced numerous challenges due to concerns about the legality of his bowling action.
Taylor’s troubles with his action first emerged in May 2013 when he was reported for an illegal delivery during a match at New Road. As a result, he was required to undergo remedial work to rectify his action, which was finally cleared as legitimate in February 2014. However, further issues arose in 2016, causing him to miss two months of the cricket season. Unfortunately, he faced another ban in 2017, this time lasting for 12 months. With a bowling average of 43.86 and 73 wickets in first-class cricket, it seemed like Taylor’s bowling career may never fully recover.
However, Taylor found solace in his batting skills, particularly in the lower-middle order. His destructive hitting abilities made him a formidable opponent in any situation. In 2017, he showcased his improvement as a 50-over batsman, averaging nearly 40 in the Championship and enjoying his best season in that format.
Taylor’s breakthrough in the first team came in the Twenty20 format in 2011 when he made a remarkable impact by taking 4 wickets for 16 runs in a victory over Somerset. Gradually, he became Gloucestershire’s preferred spinner in first-class cricket as well. In the 2015 Royal London Cup final, he delivered a match-winning performance by contributing 35 runs off 26 balls and taking three crucial wickets, including that of Kumar Sangakkara, helping Gloucestershire secure the trophy against Surrey.
In the same year, Taylor achieved his first two centuries in the Championship, with notable innings against Derbyshire and Northants. However, his exceptional batting skills were most evident in a rain-affected Royal London tie against Derbyshire in Bristol. In that match, Gloucestershire successfully chased a D/L recalculated target of 68 runs in just four overs, with Taylor smashing a quickfire 41 runs off 14 balls, playing a pivotal role in securing the tournament victory.
Taylor’s brilliant form continued into 2016 when he scored a hundred in a Championship match against Worcestershire in difficult lighting conditions. He also displayed an incredible assault during the NatWest Blast quarter-final against Durham, where he scored 80 runs off 41 balls, despite his team being in a seemingly hopeless position at 61 for 6.
Despite being unable to bowl for Gloucestershire in 2018 due to his bans, Taylor’s spirits remained high, especially after being appointed as the team’s vice-captain. He responded positively, scoring a century against Glamorgan in the Championship and averaging 30.88 in the Blast with a remarkable strike rate of 199.19.
Jack Taylor’s cricket career has been marred by doubts about his bowling action, but his resilience and talent as a lower-order batsman have been instrumental in his success for Gloucestershire. He has proven himself as a dangerous and valuable asset to the team, capable of turning matches on their heads with his aggressive hitting. As he continues to grow and adapt, Taylor’s contributions to English cricket will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.