Tallawahs more formidable this year, says Taylor
JAMAICA Tallawahs are more formidable than they were last season. That is the perspective of pacer Jerome Taylor as the Tallawahs prepared for yesterday evening’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 (T20) encounter versus St Lucia Zouks at Sabina Park.
“We are a strong team this year, we are stronger than we were last year and the guys are still upbeat about the tournament,” said Taylor, who turned 31 in June.
The Tallawahs, winners of the inaugural CPL in 2013, began the new season with defeat to reigning champions Barbados Tridents in Bridgetown on June 23. Victories over the Zouks in Gros Islet on June 28 and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on June 30 suggested the Tallawahs were building momentum.
But a heavy loss to the resurgent Patriots on July 4 in Basseterre, which rounded off the first phase of the Tallawahs’ sojourn away from Sabina Park, exposed cracks in both the batting and bowling units.
The game against the Zouks at Sabina Park marked the first in a string of four home fixtures for the Tallawahs. They battle Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel tomorrow; Barbados Tridents on Saturday; and Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday.
The Jamaican Taylor said, based on history, Sabina is a fertile haven for him and his teammates.
“Over the years we have always done well at home, so we are looking to continue in that rich vein. We want the fans to come out and support and enjoy the cricket while we go out and try to bring them [victory]. It’s up to us to come forward and give a good showing.
“It’s a happy hunting ground for me and I’m sure I’m going to give Sabina Park something to cheer about. I’m looking forward to it and I’m going to go out and represent,” Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.
Another Jamaican, the 27-year-old all-rounder Andre Russell, has put in good displays at Sabina Park with both bat and ball.
He insists the Tallawahs must make the home advantage count.
“We have to get things together and think about what’s ahead of us. Once we make use of the home advantage then we would be on our way,” said Russell.
