Jerome Taylor to join Leicestershire

Windies fast bowler Jerome Taylor is to be the first recipient of the Digicel Cricket Scholarship and following the present West Indies U.K. tour, will join English county, Leicestershire.{{more}} The Digicel Scholarship programme is designed to give young players the opportunity to develop their skills and careers through playing competitive cricket abroad.

Digicel has facilitated Taylor’s placement at Leicestershire and will cover salary and all other additional costs to enable him to join the county’s staff. The Windies Team Management will maintain contact with the Leicestershire coaching team, led by Tim Boon, throughout the season to monitor Taylor’s progress.

According to Digicel Group Marketing Director Ben Atherton: “Digicel is delighted to establish the Digicel Cricket Scholarship to help the development of our young players. We look forward to its growth and the opportunities it will give more young players to play in more countries. The Digicel Scholarship recognizes the importance of playing cricket abroad, particularly English County Cricket, to the development of great West Indian players of the past including Sir Vivian Richards at Somerset, Courtney Walsh at Gloucestershire, Curtly Ambrose at Northamptonshire and Clive Lloyd at Lancashire. We wish Jerome every success.”

Jerome Taylor, 23, follows in the footsteps of West Indian pace legend and current selector Andy Roberts, opening batsman Phil Simmons and bowler Winston Benjamin in joining the Leicestershire team at Grace Road. He is one of the most promising young cricketers in the region and has played in 12 Tests and 35 ODIs for the regional side.

“The Digicel Cricket Scholarship represents a positive step in the right direction towards the development of our players,” said West Indian fast bowling legend Michael Holding. “Having played in English country cricket myself I know first hand the benefits of what this experience can bring and look forward to seeing the fruits of Jerome’s development there.”

Leicestershire Coach Tim Boon, welcomed Taylor to the team adding: “We are looking forward to having Jerome at Leicestershire. The young fast bowler has shown great potential during his brief international career to date and his recent five wicket haul against the MCC suggests he is adapting well to English conditions. We are confident that both Leicestershire and Jerome will benefit from this experience.”

As sponsor of West Indies cricket, Digicel is continuously investing in new initiatives to further support the development of West Indies cricket. Most recently the sponsor announced funding of a team psychologist and specialist fielding coach for the England tour. Other initiatives include support of the West Indies A tours, funding a fitness coach for the Windies team and the establishment of a team and player incentive programme worth up to US$ 6.65 million.