From a purely statistical point of view Mr Jerome Taylor’s Test match record showing 130 wickets at 34 runs each may not seem very impressive.

In reality though, at a time of extreme despondency in West Indies cricket Mr Taylor has often been a standout on the world stage, providing hope, even occasional glory for the region.

Indeed, but for a history of back and side injuries which cruelly sidelined him for lengthy periods at crucial times in his career, Mr Taylor – who retired from Test cricket earlier this month – may well have been among the great fast bowlers of our time.

Slight of built and only about five feet, 10 inches tall, Mr Taylor, when at his best, swung the ball as very few can, at high speeds, often exceeding 90 miles an hour. His batting skills declined over time but were good enough to earn him a shot-filled Test century against New Zealand in that country in 2008.

A native of northern St Elizabeth, Mr Taylor was introduced to cricket early, since his father, himself a fast bowler, played for Appleton Sugar Estate where he worked.

His skills were nurtured at St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) guided by Mr Junior Bennett, then coach of the national under-19 team and who would later take charge of the national senior team.

Perhaps because of concerns about his size, Mr Taylor was only selected for the Jamaica under-19 team in his final year of eligibility. Such was Mr Taylor’s obvious quality, he was selected to the national senior trial squad to gain “experience”, the selectors said.

But impressive performances in those trial games gained him a place in the Jamaica team in 2003. He ended up topping the Jamaican bowling averages with 17 wickets at 16.7 each, including a magical, match-wining 8-59 against Trinidad and Tobago at the Queens Park Oval which effectively catapulted the teenager into the West Indies team against Sri Lanka.

The first of his career-threatening injuries would strike Mr Taylor shortly thereafter. But by the Indian tour of the Caribbean in 2006, he was the leader of the West Indies attack. Many will recall Mr Taylor’s exhibition of pace, bounce and swing, capturing nine wickets in the match for a losing cause.

In the years since, Mr Taylor has reserved his best Test match performances for his home crowd at Sabina Park, none more memorable than his sensational 5-11 in 2009 as West Indies skittled England for a second innings 51 to claim a shock innings victory.

The last of his major injury episodes in 2010 seemed destined to end his career. But Mr Taylor bravely fought his way back into the regional team in 2014. In the drawn Test series against England in 2015 and also against Australia last year he appeared to be bowling as well as he ever has.

But poor returns on subsequent tours of Sri Lanka and Australia apparently contributed to his decision to retire from Tests. We note that Mr Taylor remains available for the shorter versions of the game – formats in which he has excelled on occasion.

This newspaper thanks Mr Taylor for his service to West Indies and Jamaica cricket and we wish him all that’s good.