Taylor hails team for 'awesome' win

    Being Monty

Rob Steen: There have been many players before Panesar who had to deal with prejudice of all sorts. One way to counter it is to celebrate your difference

    Cooky's mistake, and the turning points of the Ashes

Plus the inevitable obligatory urine jokes, by Dave Podmore

    Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Ask Steven: Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, and double-oh partners

A tale of two Ashes books

Samir Chopra: Two college professors, of politics and philosophy, in two different continents, connect through their common love of cricket

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Ashes 2013: England set to audition James Taylor to act as cover for Kevin Pietersen

England want to look at Taylor against Australia with a view to him replacing Kevin Pietersen for the third Ashes Test if he fails to recover from a calf injury.

Pietersen is undergoing intensive treatment this week on his left calf but England will name cover for him when they announce the squad for the Old Trafford Test at the weekend with Taylor’s appearance for Sussex confirmation that he is the frontrunner.

Taylor played two Tests last summer against South Africa but doubts about his technique at the highest level led to his being overtaken during the winter by Joe Root and Nick Compton.

But he has scored two centuries, including one double, in the first division of the Championship for Nottinghamshire this summer forcing his way back into contention.

England view Compton as an opener not a batsman to slot into the middle order, making a recall this week unlikely.

Gary Ballance of Yorkshire netted with England at Headingley before the second Test against New Zealand in May and is highly rated but likely to be kept back until the one-day series against Australia after the Ashes.

Ravi Bopara is also a candidate for a Test recall but a side injury has curtailed his cricket in recent weeks.

Taylor made his debut at Headingley against the mighty South African attack last summer and batted for nearly two hours in the first innings with Pietersen.

There were reports Pietersen belittled Taylor’s performance in the dressing room during a match when his relationship with England fractured completely. Taylor has said he has no knowledge of the incident.

The 23-year-old played in the next Test at Lord’s and was run out going for fourth run in the second innings as England lost by 51 runs.

Taylor’s appearance for Sussex is the second time England have used county matches against Australia to their own advantage with Compton turning out for Worcestershire.

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Ashes 2013: James Taylor called up to Sussex side as Australia pick rookie spinner Ashton Turner

Pietersen is undergoing treatment on a calf problem ahead of the third Ashes Test which starts at Old Trafford next Thursday, so there is a chance that his place in the batting line-up could become available.

Several names have been mentioned as possible replacements, including Ravi Bopara and Gary Ballance, but with Taylor trading Nottinghamshire for Sussex at England's request, the 23-year-old would seem to be next in line.

"We would like to thank Nottinghamshire CCC and Sussex CCC for their support and understanding in allowing Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor to play for Sussex against Australia in the three-day tour match beginning on Friday," said England coach Andy Flower in a statement.

"This will provide James with a valuable opportunity to play in a longer format of the game while we consider our options ahead of the third Investec Ashes Test next week. Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and a decision about his availability for the Test will made nearer the time."

The three-day game starts at Hove on Friday, with Australia looking to build up some confidence after two demoralising losses in the first and second Tests.

Taylor said: "I'm hopeful that KP will be fit to play and, as it stands, I'm preparing to play in the three-day game for Sussex and nothing more.

"I'm disappointed to have to miss two big Notts matches but the Sussex fixture will give me an opportunity to get some red ball practice and then I'll wait and see.

"I'm not back in the Test side yet but I'm pleased to be a step closer to it and I've always dealt with situations like this by concentrating on the game in hand and refusing to look too far ahead."

Taylor is no stranger to the Test environment having made two appearances last summer including a 147-run stand with Pietersen against South Africa at Headingley.

Meanwhile, Australia have called up rookie off-spinner Ashton Turner for the match after deciding to rest several senior players.

Turner, who will make his first-class debut in the three-day match at Hove, has been playing for Chichester Priory Park as part of a development programme run by Cricket Australia and Hampshire.

The 20-year-old has taken 18 wickets at an average of 40.78 for the Sussex Premier League club this season and will be one of three spinners in the Australia side, along with Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon.

Australia captain Michael Clarke will miss the match amid reports that his long-standing back injury flared up after the second Test defeat to England at Lord's. Vice-captain Brad Haddin, openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers plus pace bowlers Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris have all been rested, with Ed Cowan to captain the Australia XI.

Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and James Faulkner will be all be pressing for a place in the Australia side for the Old Trafford Test after James Pattinson was sidelined with a stress fracture in his lower back.

Turner was a member of the Australia Under-19 team that finished runners-up to India in last year's World Cup. He was one of six Australian Institute Of Sport scholars to be awarded a summer placement in England.

Agar was also on the scheme and he had been playing club cricket at Henley before he was called into the Ashes squad. Turner linked up with the Australia team for the first Ashes Test in Nottingham, when Agar scored 98 on debut.

Australia team: Cowan (capt), Hughes, Khawaja, Smith, Wade, Faulkner, Agar, Turner, Starc, Lyon, Bird.

(Edited by Ben Bloom)

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Suspended Taylor to miss season

Suspended Gloucestershire off-spinner Jack Taylor will not bowl for the first team again this season.

Taylor has been out of action since 28 May after being reported for illegal bowling actions on two separate occasions within a 12-month period.

The 21-year-old is allowed to bat but, as a lower-order batsman, is unlikely to be drafted in from the second XI.

"Jack is progressing very well," director of cricket John Bracewell told BBC Gloucestershire.

"Gloucestershire University tested him last week and he came through that with a pass. We now need to make sure there's scrutiny under pressure.

“It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude ”

Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger on Jack Taylor's suspension "But we're in no hurry and the real view is he won't be playing first-class cricket this year as a bowler."

Prior to his suspension, Taylor, who averages 26.52 with the bat in first-class cricket, played four Division Two games this season, taking six wickets and scoring 178 runs.

Since then he has made 248 runs in nine innings for Gloucestershire's seconds.

But Bracewell added: "People going in ahead of him are getting more runs so it's a competitive field. Our second 11 has been going extremely well this season."

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger was quick to praise Taylor for the way he has handled his suspension.

"It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude," he said.

"He's certainly someone who can cope with the situation well and he's shown that he has, not only when he's played and trained but in the surrounding group.

"He's always upbeat so there's no doubt that once he does get it right he'll be pushing his way back into the team."

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Taylor in 'good place' for England

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell believes James Taylor's form merits a call into England's Ashes squad if Kevin Pietersen misses the third Test because of injury.

Pietersen picked up a left calf strain in the second Test against Australia.

And batsman Taylor, who has played two Test matches, has a Championship average of 58.85 for Notts this season.

"In terms of runs and confidence, he's in a good place [for a call-up]," Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham.

Taylor made scores of 34, 10 and four in his only previous Test experience against South Africa.

"I think England will sit down, make a few phone calls and pick the right batsman for the team.

"His form is good, and it will very much come down to the opinion of the selectors and [England coach] Andy Flower."

The diminutive 23-year-old's previous Test experience came against South Africa last summer, but he has been a leading member of the England Lions squad since then.

"James is still knocking the door down with his runs in county cricket, he's still well thought of at the Lions level and I'm sure it will be a matter of time before he gets a chance again," added Newell.

Taylor's name has also been mentioned by England batting coach Graham Gooch.

Asked about Pietersen's fitness, Gooch said: "The selectors will decide if they need cover, I'm confident there's some good talent.

"James Taylor made his England debut last year and showed up pretty well at Headingley, Nick Compton has been in the side this winter, and there will be one or two others who have done well for the Lions so they will have to look at the possible options."

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Suspended Taylor to miss season

Suspended Gloucestershire off-spinner Jack Taylor will not bowl for the first team again this season.

Taylor has been out of action since 28 May after being reported for illegal bowling actions on two separate occasions within a 12-month period.

The 21-year-old is allowed to bat but, as a lower-order batsman, is unlikely to be drafted in from the second XI.

"Jack is progressing very well," director of cricket John Bracewell told BBC Gloucestershire.

"Gloucestershire University tested him last week and he came through that with a pass. We now need to make sure there's scrutiny under pressure.

“It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude ”

Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger on Jack Taylor's suspension "But we're in no hurry and the real view is he won't be playing first-class cricket this year as a bowler."

Prior to his suspension, Taylor, who averages 26.52 with the bat in first-class cricket, played four Division Two games this season, taking six wickets and scoring 178 runs.

Since then he has made 248 runs in nine innings for Gloucestershire's seconds.

But Bracewell added: "People going in ahead of him are getting more runs so it's a competitive field. Our second 11 has been going extremely well this season."

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger was quick to praise Taylor for the way he has handled his suspension.

"It's been tough but the thing in his favour is that he's got such a fantastic attitude," he said.

"He's certainly someone who can cope with the situation well and he's shown that he has, not only when he's played and trained but in the surrounding group.

"He's always upbeat so there's no doubt that once he does get it right he'll be pushing his way back into the team."

View the original article here