Tom Taylor is optimistic Worcestershire can retain their Vitality County Championship Division One status if they repeat “the real great brand of cricket” they have displayed for most of the competition so far.
The all-rounder is looking forward to the five games ahead – starting with Thursday’s encounter with Kent at Visit Worcestershire New Road – after missing the initial block of games in April and May through injury.
Taylor played a crucial part with the ball in Worcestershire’s win over Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside in their last Championship fixture at the beginning of July, returning figures of 16-3-48-4 in the second innings after taking the new ball.
He also has experience of being part of a county which gained sufficient points to remain in the top division when with Northamptonshire two years ago.
Taylor said: These last five Championship games are massive for the club in their push to finish as high as possible.
“I feel the club have played a really great brand of cricket in the Championship.
“We’ve been beaten a couple of times but arguably we’ve drawn a couple that we should have won had the rain not stopped things.
“If we keep doing that, and keep putting ourselves in good positions….we play a lot of teams that are around us in the league, and a couple of good results could leave us finishing towards the top six which is what we will be looking for.”
Taylor added: “Every point is massive and two years ago Northants finished sixth and arguably should have finished a little bit higher.
“It proves that the so called smaller clubs can compete and play a good positive brand of cricket.
“If all 11 guys are doing the utmost to get that result and scrap for every point, they all add up at the end so that’s what we will be looking to do.”
Taylor is looking forward to bowling alongside Joe Leach who is retiring at the end of the season but fit to play in Thursday’s encounter against Kent
He said: “His record at Worcestershire speaks for itself. It is amazing what he has done and the group are gutted he is coming to the end of that.
“But he’s got five games if his body can get him through it, which I’m sure it will. He will give it a right good crack.
“It will be amazing to take the field with him. Hopefully he can really contribute to some wins.”
