KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor has abruptly called time on his Test career, just days before the start of the upcoming series against India.
The 32-year-old, who has played 46 Tests, informed the West Indies Cricket Board he would no longer be available for selection in the longer format of the game.
However, Taylor has indicated his desire to continue playing One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s.
“Right-arm fast bowler, Jerome Taylor, will not be available for the upcoming Test Series against India, following his formal notification to retire from that format of the game,” a short statement from the WICB said yesterday.
“The 32-year old has however indicated his availability for the shorter formats.”
Taylor has had a chequered career, taking 130 Test wickets at an average of 34, with four five-wicket hauls.
Perhaps his finest hour came back in 2009 on England’s tour of the Caribbean when he produced a magnificent five-wicket haul to bundle out the tourists for 51 in their second innings of the first Test at Sabina Park, to secure West Indies an astonishing innings victory.
The Windies went on to clinch the five-match series 1-0.
Taylor’s career was marred by a five-year break due to lack of fitness and injury, and he only returned to West Indies colours two years ago for New Zealand’s three-Test tour of the Caribbean.
Since then, he has been a feature of the Test side. He took 11 wickets in two Tests against England last year in the Caribbean when West Indies drew the three-match series 1-1, and followed up with eight wickets in the two Tests against Australia.
He had a bruising campaign on the return tour Down Under late last year when he managed just two wickets in 46 overs in the three-Test series which West Indies lost 2-0.
Taylor has been good enough to score a Test hundred, hitting a delightful 106 off 107 balls against New Zealand in Dunedin eight years ago.
Career Stats
Competition Tests ODIs F Class List A
Matches 41 79 64 85
Runs scored 778 254 1,085 285
Batting average 13.64 8.75 13.56 10.17
100s/50s 1/1 0/0 1/1 0/0
Top score 106 43* 106 43*
Balls bowled 7,223 3,945 9,995 4,171
Wickets 122 123 203 129
Bowling average 33.45 26.91 26.70 25.57
5 wickets in innings 4 1 11 1
10 wickets in match 0 0 2 0
Best bowling 6/47 5/48 8/59 5/48
Catches/stumpings 7/– 19/– 15/– 21/–
