Steven Taylor, a left-handed opening batsman who also keeps wicket competently, was nurtured from an early age on the sidelines of grounds around South Florida by his father.

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By Ricardo Inniss

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Born in Miami to Jamaican parents Loveth and Sylvan Taylor, on November 09. 1993, Steven Taylor, a left-handed opening batsman who also keeps wicket competently, was nurtured from an early age on the sidelines of grounds around South Florida by his father

Sylvan, and later by his mentor former USA hard-hitting stroke playing left-handed batsman Mark Johnson. Later, Steven became the first 14 year-old to bang a half century in the South Florida Cricket Alliance (SFCA), Keith Graham Memorial Classic (now the SFCA Sims Cup Classic). Steven’s enterprising knock against Pakistan, while representing a SFCA Youth Team, was decorated with 4 fours and 3 sixes off 33 balls and lasted just 41 minutes.

Early in 2008, Steven toured St. Kitts, Nevis, Guyana, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago representing the USA in the ICC Americas Clico Under-15 International Tournament. Steven toured New Zealand with the 2010 USA Under-19 team, and again the same year, he toured Italy with the senior team.  Later he represented the senior team again, this time against a touring Jamaica team at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in South Florida.

Steven, now a prolific scorer in all senior SFCA competitions, recently hit back-to-back double centuries to lead his Florida Cricket Academy to an undefeated record in the Miramar Youth Festival held recently in Miramar, Florida.

The young and very talented 17 year-old, took 212 off Big Broward Cricket Academy, before retiring in the first 40 over match of the tournament. The following day, Taylor came back to produce a flawless boundary studded knock of 206 against the Atlanta-based Cricket Academy of USA.  In the final match against the Michigan Cricket Academy he scored 51.

Young Steven was recently selected as USA vice-captain for the recently completed ICC Americas Under-19 Tournament played in Florida, during which the USA played undefeated. Taylor is expected to continue in his new role as vice-captain when the 2011 Under-19 tournament gets underway in Ireland later this year. 

The stroke playing left-hander, who can be a devastating and ruthless opponent, rich vein of form continues as in the currently on-going SFCA Sims Classic he recently hit a blazing undefeated 87 against India, and in his most recent knock, he took a sparkling 75 off Pakistan. He is the youngest player in the SFCA Premier Division, and idolizes former West Indies captain Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and on the local scene, Mark Johnson. Steven is looking forward one day to representing the West Indies and when that happens, he will be setting his sites on breaking Lara’s test record.

Steven is currently attending the Miramar High School, in Miramar, South Florida. Cricket is his first love but he also enjoys American football, basketball and softball.  When relaxing, he likes to listen to reggae and soca music.

There’s no doubt about it!  Steven, who has every shot in the book and a few of his own, is a big plus for USA cricket and definitely one for the future.