PACER Jerome Taylor is looking forward to the challenge when Jamaica seek their first West Indies Cricket Board Caribbean Twenty20 (WICB CT20) title, to be jointly staged in Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados.

Taylor, who has sustained a series of back and hip injuries over the past year, has been drafted in the 14-member national squad and is expected to play a key role in their quest for triumph.

Speaking after taking two wickets in the penultimate squad match recently at Sabina Park, the 26-year-old quick said he is expecting to enjoy a good tournament.

“At this moment, the body is feeling alright and I know the expectations are very high. Because I’m a West Indies player, people are looking out for all the good things from Jerome Taylor. The pressure is going to be on, but I think I’m accustomed to that and will be looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

On the late 2009 Test tour of Australia, Taylor encountered “back stiffness” and had to be sent home for treatment. More misery was to follow for the West Indies ace when he suffered hiprelated injury, soon after his return, during the fifth One-Day International (ODI) versus South Africa last June.

In 29 Tests, he has taken 82 wickets at an average of 35.64 and has so far scored one century, which came against New Zealand in 2008. He also has 98 wickets to his name in 66 ODIs at a creditable 26.82.

Added Taylor: “There is still room for improvement and there is always a learning curve as long as you play this game, so I’m trying to ensure I cover the basics. It is still cricket, so you have to take it game by game, step by step.

“I’m doing all I can do to ensure that on the day I’m ready. At this present moment, everything is alright, so I hope it stays like this, or even gets better as we go along, because I’m still looking to improve in all areas of my strengthening.”

In Wednesday’s final T20 preparation match, Taylor took three for 16 to lead a Jamaica XI to an 18-run win over a relatively strong St Elizabeth XI at Ballards Valley.

Batting first, the Jamaica team was dismissed for 123 with seven balls to spare, thanks to scores of 34 and 26 from Shawn Findlay and Danza Hyatt respectively.

Taylor, leg-spinner Odean Brown (two for 11) and left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell (two for 21) then combined to skittle out their opponents for 105.

Captained by Wavell Hinds, the team is scheduled to leave the island today before meeting reigning champions Guyana on the tournament’s opening day on January 10 in Antigua.

Also competing in that group are Combined Campuses and Colleges, the Windward Islands and English County team Somerset.