2009 English Domestic Season

Just to get this thread back on track - The Official James Taylor Thread as it now ought to be - I'm just back from watching the young man playing in person for the first time, and I'm impressed.

The lad is tiny - so short in fact that when he tucks his shirt in, half of his number disappears - but he can play. The easiest way to describe him would be as a right handed Eoin Morgan, all flicks, nudges and paddles, in the short form of the game anyway, and he's not short on confidence either.

Admittedly on the night he was overshadowed by a colossal performance by Jim Allenby, who I have rated for a few years despite him only occasionally demonstrating why. Tonight it all fell into place with a marvellous 110 off 58 balls, without ever looking like he has having to try all that hard, and then followed up with 3-25 as well.

I saw the 3-21 and he bowled nicely there - fairly brisk with a nice touch of hostility

I think for all their trumpeting of their youth system Leics have had a poor record in giving youngsters a go, especially in the bowling department: Chris Liddle was never given a fair go despite looking good any time he got a shot, Ryan Cummings never really knew where he stood one week to the next and Nick Walker was sufficiently disenchanted to give up cricket and become a businessman! 

Brilliant show by Freddie with the bat albeit against weak bowling. But 93 off 41 is special. Good to see him back in form with the bat. A fully fit in form Flintoff could do wonders for England in the Ashes. Go England!!!

I never knew that. It sounds great!! I have always felt Cook should play for England in all versions of the game. He is better than Shah any day.

James Taylor piled up a sensational unbeaten double hundred for Leics against Surrey today

Wow Taylor basically has 5 tons and he's only 19. Cook was brought into the side as a 20 year old, so perhaps Taylor will be groomed for England duties.
       Getting out between 88 and 100 is probably just an indicator of a bit of nerves, which you'd expect from a young bloke. But the fact that he already has a double ton would certainly show that there's no issues with his temperament. For England's sake he needs to be treated well, nobody wants to see another Graeme Hick or Mark Ramprakash in the side.

We've seen guys make the national side doing a lot less than what he has done. Imagine talk of him coming into the England set up and a bloke 20 years older in Ramps coming in! Thankfully England are not looking to him, way too early to call in an U-19 player, but from the sounds of it he has the makings of a top class player. Playing under that sort of pressure as a 19 year old means that he's got his mind in the right place. Stephen Waugh made 10 90s in test cricket, even after 100 tests and thousands of runs he still got nerves in the 90s - I don't think it's a big issue, although it would disappoint Taylor a lot to be missing out on well deserved tons.
      Dippenaar has always been rubbish, probably a wasted investment for Leics. Always had the ability, but his technique isn't refined enough and I think he's not in the right place mentally.

Too many player fallin in Sachin text book these days. Being out in the 90-odd after a superb innings

Salim Malik was not too far either.

Fleming never got to the 90's, he got out in the 60's.

Guess who got another century today - despite having to bat around the tail again for most of his innings, and against a rampant Kaneria who was nonchalantly knocking over the first 6 wickets.

Given his run of nearly-but-not-quite hundreds, you have to hand it to him for moving from 83 to 101 in the space of 6 balls.

Absolutely, it is no guarantee of success, but the manner and circumstances of the runs give me grounds for optimism - which is tempered by the fact that he hardly made a run in his last series with the England U19's.

I'll be very unhappy if he isn't part of the England Lions squad this winter.

I doubt he will be in Test contention next season. This was his first full season and there is every chance he will suffer second season syndrome and find life a little harder. Cynics will also point out that he made all his runs in the second division, and even Phil Hughes looked good against those bowling attacks.

As I said before he should definitely be a part of forthcoming England Lions' squads though.

Originally posted by Clobber Cynics will also point out that he made all his runs in the second division, and even Phil Hughes looked good against those bowling attacks.

   The subtlety of the man's jibes just gets better and better.  Class.


Edited by Sledger - 22 September 2009 at 1:43pm