Matt Reaps Reward For Hard Work
27 April 2014
Matt Taylor believes the benefits of a hard-working winter have earned him a first team place in Gloucestershire’s opening LV=County Championship games.
The 19-year-old left-arm seamer, who ended last summer with four first class wickets to his name, has already added nine more in the matches against Cardiff MCCU, Hampshire and Glamorgan.
Matt has also claimed his first five-wicket haul in an innings, with 5-75 against Hampshire, and is enjoying every minute of the season so far.
He told this website: “It was my first full winter working on my game at home as a Gloucestershire player because I spent the previous one in New Zealand.
“I feel my game has really come on as a result. I have been specifically working on swinging the ball back into right-handed batsmen.
“How you do that varies for different bowlers, It can either be to do with wrist position or the position you get your front side into at the crease.
“For me it was more the latter and making sure I was far enough across. I have always been able to swing the ball back, but I wanted to be able to do it more consistently.”
Matt made his Championship debut against Leicestershire last September and went on to play against Lancashire and Glamorgan.
He said: “I managed to play three first class games at the end of last season, which was really pleasing.
“Now I want to build on that and be involved in as many as I can this summer.
“I got my maiden first class wicket against Lancashire at the County Ground last year, which was another breakthrough, and hopefully I am developing as a bowler all the time.”
Matt is excited about the team’s prospects for the summer ahead, as well as his own.
“I think we have a great chance of winning promotion in the Championship this season,” he said. “The squad is looking really good and there has been real progress over the winter.
“We have a lot of good fast bowlers and when everyone is fit there is huge competition for places. That is brilliant because it keeps us all on our toes.
“I also think the 50-over competition will suit us. Using two new balls will ensure the seams stay harder and we have bowlers capable of nibbling it around off the pitch.
“The other side of the coin is that batsman like having a hard ball to hit, so it will be vital that we put it in the right place.”
These days in county cricket every member of the team is expected to contribute with the bat, something Matt accepts.
He said: “I have worked hard on my batting during the winter with coach Owen Dawkins and it is coming along nicely, so hopefully I will be able to contribute some runs at the end of the innings.”
