Callum Taylor Admits To “Surreal” Debut As Explosive Century Puts Him With Glamorgan Greats

By Paul Jones

Callum Taylor admitted it felt a little “surreal” to enter the record books after making a century on his first class debut for Glamorgan.

The 22-year-old from Newport struck a magnificent 106 off 94 balls away to Northamptonshire on day one of the Welsh county’s latest game in the Bob Willis trophy.

In doing so, Taylor – son of former Pontypool rugby captain Matthew Taylor – joined a small band of Glamorgan players, including two greats, who have reached three figures on their first class debut.

He now stands alongside Frank Pinch (1921), current coach Matthew Maynard (1985) and Mike Powell (1997) as those who have made centuries on their first appearances.

“I was very excited to get to the hundred, as shown by my reaction,” said Taylor.

“It was good to have a big partnership (124 from 68 balls) and get the boys up to a decent total.

 

Century on debut ✅
Reach it with a six✅
Be part of a record partnership ✅

Not a bad first day in first-class cricket for Callum Taylor…#GoGlam #NORvGLAM

📺 Highlights of his 💯👇 pic.twitter.com/iYeEI1qqSa

— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) August 22, 2020

“There’s a lot of things that go through your head before your debut, one of them is scoring a hundred and it happened so sometimes your imagination does come true.

“It’s a bit surreal but I’ll look back at it and soak it all up.”

Taylor showed his rich potential with six sixes and 11 fours in a determined and confident display of power hitting.

After reaching just 12 from his first 38 balls, Taylor cut loose when Marchant de Lange and last man Michael Hogan arrived at the crease, and believed the lack of pressure helped him flourish as well as the feeling of making his debut.

“The expectation of us losing the last wicket pretty quickly was high, so me and Hoges showed a bit of intent. It loosened me and Mick up, being a bit more positive helped us and their attack didn’t really know what to do.

“It’s a dream come true to play but to score a hundred on debut is surreal and I’m excited for the future.”

Taylor, who spent some time playing in Australia, played four T20s last season and coach Maynard believes he has a big future ahead of him.

 

A day I’ll never forget!! Over the moon https://t.co/aYzGDCifeA

— Callum Taylor (@CallumZTaylor) August 22, 2020

“He’s very exciting and he’s really impressed in pre-season, he’s dynamic,” said the head coach about Taylor, who was nominated for the second XI player of the year and young player of the year awards in 2019.

“He came into the side in T20 cricket last year and I think he’s become a better player over the winter with a couple of things to take away back to Australia.

“He’s done that, he’s worked on it and come back, he’s scored runs in both the T20 warm up games and the two and three-day games. He’s a very promising talent who bowls unusual off-spin as well.”

Taylor shared in a remarkable tenth wicket stand with Hogan as they added 124 in the space of just 11.2 overs to post the Welsh county’s highest stand for that wicket against the East Midlands side, beating the 115 which Allan Watkins and Don Shepherd had added for the tenth wicket at the same ground during 1958.

Taylor’s 106  took his side to 259 all out, before Northants reached a solid 82-1 in reply.