Taylor signs with Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has secured the services of former West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

The vastly experienced West Indies international has put pen to paper on a three-year deal at the Bristol County Ground.

Taylor has previously played in England for Leicestershire, Sussex and most recently, Somerset, for whom he made a big impact by taking 14 Vitality Blast wickets in 2019 and 22 the previous season.

But for the first time, the 35-year-old will be available to his new club in all competitions.

“I am very excited to be joining Gloucestershire and I am looking forward to meeting up with the players and the staff and getting underway,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s arrival coincides with Gloucestershire’s return to County Championship Division One after winning promotion last season.

He will follow in the footsteps of fellow West Indies fast bowler, Shannon Gabriel, who turned out for the county in two first-class matches at the end of the 2019 season.

Gloucestershire Head Coach Richard Dawson said: “Jerome is an exciting player who will add some pace and international experience to the bowling attack.”

He added: “He can contribute in all formats so he will be a valuable addition to the squad. We played some very good cricket last season to get us into Division One and Jerome can help us to set a high standard in the field against some talented opposition.”

Gloucestershire’s first match of the club’s 150th anniversary year will be away at Headingley in the County Championship against Yorkshire on April 12.

Taylor and his new teammates will then face Lancashire in the first Division One match to be staged at the County Ground since 2005.