USA Opener Steven Taylor Embraces Jamaican Roots Ahead of T20 World Cup Clash with West Indies
On Friday night at Kensington Oval, USA opener Steven Taylor will be embracing his Jamaican heritage as he takes the field against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2024. Born in Florida to Jamaican parents, the 28-year-old has been a lifelong West Indies fan and is eagerly anticipating the chance to play against the team he grew up supporting.
“I’m representing my parents, my Jamaican heritage,” Taylor said. “At the end of the day, I might be born American, but I speak more Jamaican than I speak American sometimes.”
The American opener will be singing David Rudder’s iconic “Rally Round The West Indies” anthem, just as he did during their previous meeting in the 50-over World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe last year.
Despite the 39-run defeat, Taylor believes the USA are capable of causing an upset, having given the West Indies a tough fight. “We gave them a fight at the end of the day and we know that we have a chance of beating them once we play good cricket on the day,” he said.
The former Barbados Tridents and Jamaica regional cricketer is especially relishing the prospect of facing his good friend Akeal Hosein. “I know most of his tricks so for sure I’ll be hunting him, first ball,” Taylor said with a grin.
While the USA will enter the contest as underdogs, Taylor is confident in his team’s abilities. “We’re just here to play good cricket and if we go in, we win; if we lose, we lose,” he stated.
🔗 Source