Jack Taylor to lead Gloucestershire in T20 Blast

The 28-year-old replaces Michael Klinger, who retired at the end of last season

Jack Taylor will captain Gloucestershire in this year’s T20 Blast, replacing Michael Klinger who retired at the end of last season.

The 28-year-old made his debut for the club in 2010 and has since undergone several reinventions, having started out as an off-spinner. However, with questions asked around the validity of his action, he has turned himself into a batsman of note.

He played 13 games in last year’s competition as Gloucestershire reached the quarter-finals, only missing out on a place at Finals Day after losing to Derbyshire.

Taylor didn’t bowl once in that campaign, instead playing as a hard-hitting batsman. He scored 193 runs at an average of 24.12 and a strike rate of 134.96. The previous year, his runs came at a rapid rate of 199.19 per 100 balls.

He sits seventh on Gloucestershire’s all-time list of T20 scorers with 928 runs at a career strike rate of 148.48. He also ranks eighth in terms of T20 appearances for the county.

Taylor, whose younger brother Matt also plays for Gloucestershire, said: “It’s an honour to be given the T20 captaincy for this season. I know that I have big shoes to fill following on from Maxy’s leadership, but I am excited for the challenge and opportunities that lie ahead.

We have a strong core group that I believe can and will go to the next level and bring silverware back to this great club.”

Head coach Richard Dawson added: “It's a very exciting time for the club having Jack Taylor take over the Vitality Blast captaincy. He has been part of the T20 changing room for a number of years and can carry on the hard work that Maxy put in over the years.

“He is one of the more senior players in the squad and now has the chance to lead the team and create something of his own.”

Following the announcement on Wednesday morning of this year’s fixtures, Taylor’s first game in charge will come against Northamptonshire on August 27.

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