Taylor becomes the first three-time winner of the award, having claimed the same honor in 2011 and 2013. 

Photo credit: Peter Della Penna

By Peter Della Penna (Twitter @PeterDellaPenna)
 
DreamCricket is once again celebrating USA’s top performers from the calendar year through the New Inning Foundation USA Cricket Awards. This edition of the awards recognizes performances in 2021. 
 
The New Inning Foundation USA Batsman of the Year is Florida’s Steven Taylor. Taylor becomes the first three-time winner of the award, having also claimed the honor in 2011 and 2013. 
 
For the year, Taylor did not lead USA’s scoring list in ODIs (he was third overall with 216 runs in six innings at an average of 36.00 and a strike rate of 113.08) nor in T20Is (sixth overall with 70 runs in three innings at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 179.48), but the number of impactful innings he had in USA victories played a significant role in Taylor besting his peers for this honor. Part of the reason why he made such an impact was his bruising strike rate in both formats, which was far and away USA’s best in both ODIs and T20Is. 
 
Promoted by new head coach J Arunkumar back to the top of the order where he experienced the best success of his USA career, Taylor flourished in the role from his first innings of 2021 against Papua New Guinea in Oman. He scored a 31-ball half-century, USA’s fastest in ODIs breaking the previous mark by one ball which was held by Nisarg Patel on the tour of Nepal in February 2020, before ending with 82 off 55 balls in a Player of the Match performance in USA’s seven-wicket win. Taylor broke his own record by one ball just 11 days later with a 30-ball half-century against Nepal as part of 92 off 63 balls in another Player of the Match performance during a six-wicket win. 
 
In T20Is, Taylor only batted in three innings on USA’s tour of Antigua for T20 World Cup Regional Qualifying as USA management opted for a rotational policy as USA romped to an undefeated title. Regardless, Taylor played a series of consequential innings in USA victories. He nabbed another Player of the Match Award for his bruising 39 not out off just 15 balls as USA chased a target of 65 in just 4.2 overs during a 10-wicket romp of Belize to kick off tournament play. Against Bermuda, he scored 25 off 17 balls as part of a 53-run first wicket stand that laid a crucial platform for USA in a hard fought 23-run win. Against Canada, he only scored 6 off 7 balls in regulation but much more memorably struck two sixes in the Super Over, playing an essential role in a famous win for USA at Coolidge. 
 
In recognition of his achievement, Taylor will receive a plaque as well as a $500 DreamCricket.com Pavilion Shop gift card sponsored by New Inning Foundation.