"We're standing on the threshold of a new era." The words of Chris Taylor, who has committed his future to Gloucestershire by signing a two-year contract extension.
The 32-year-old has penned a new deal, which will keep him at Nevil Road until 2011.
Taylor, the club's leading run-scorer last season, said he was pleased to have his future settled: "I'm committed to playing for Gloucestershire and it's nice to have my future sorted out in plenty of time before the new season starts in April.
"These are exciting times for the club and it feels like a new start. I'm looking forward to playing under Alex Gidman and I've worked with John Bracewell in the past and feel he's probably what we need right now," added the Bristol-born batsman, clearly taking the 'user-you-know' attitude to Bracewell's second term as Gloucestershire coach, as he described the New Zealander as the man who can get the best out of every player on the staff.
Taylor said he was eager to return the shire to the glory days: "We've under-achieved over the past couple of years; no-one was happy with finishing bottom of the County Championship in 2008. I want to be a part of making the club successful again."
Appointed as fielding coach for the Glos 12 months ago, Taylor - who will enjoy a benefit year throughout 2009 - hopes to retain the role under Bracewell: "It's another string to my bow and it's something I really enjoy. It's a specialist job and it will be down to John Bracewell and what he wants."
Gloucestershire have secured the services of arguably their best cricketer for the next three years. Chris Taylor will be the basis to build the squad around - his outstanding fielding and regular runs flying the flag - it a question of whether the management can bring in the required players to bolster the staff and compliment the current crop.
Interview by GCCC: www.gloscricket.co.uk
Obviously pleased that Taylor has renewed, one of the few batsman, along with Snell, who scored any consistent runs last season. However, good as the news is, there's little to convince me that the squad is "on the threshold of a new era". Whatever miracles Bracewell hopes to work, the squad is still not good enough and there have been no significant inconmings to suggest that that state of affairs will improve.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with you, bigV. Last season was the worst I can remember (in 55 years), and I see no signs that 2009 will be any better. As you say, the squad is still not good enough.
ReplyDelete"Donovan U Era" and "Grace Tepp-Ford" look sadly absent, I'm afraid.