Nottinghamshire 254 for 5 (Taylor 138*, Read 50*, Barker 4-52) v Warwickshire
Scorecard
A man doesn't like to find himself saying "size isn't everything" too often, but in James Taylor's case, it seems almost unavoidable.
Despite an outstanding domestic record, Taylor has had to be content with a supporting role in international cricket. Even his latest foray into the ODI side - during which he scored his maiden century and captained the side when Eoin Morgan was injured - only came about because Joe Root was rested.
But for various reasons - not least a perception that his technique will be exposed by the best bowling attack - Taylor has had to wait a little longer than might be expected for his first Test tour. Kevin Pietersen infamously told Andy Flower that Taylor was built to be a jockey - like his father - and "not up to it" at Test level.
But Taylor is the same height as Sachin Tendulkar. He could swap shoes with Murray Goodwin. He could reach up to shelves and pass things down to Alvin Kallicharran. He is plenty tall enough.
And while it is true that he has a jockey's height, it might also be said that he has a jockey's toughness. County bowlers learned several years ago that it was foolish to equate his size and fresh-face with weakness and have long since given up trying to intimidate him. A first-class average of 47 will do that.
This was, in many ways, a typical Taylor innings. It was scrappy at times, dropped on three occasions but, while nobody else in the top six could reach 25 - four of them could not reach 10 - he compiled the 20th first-class century of his career and the second of this campaign. He also recorded his 1000th first-class run of the season.
He is wonderfully balanced at the crease. While other players fell to the off side as they attempted to play the inswing of the dangerous Keith Barker, Taylor waited just that fraction longer so that, instead of attempting to play through midwicket, he was able to punch the ball straight down the ground. His on-drives were a delight.
But he is not much interested in being pretty. The way he throws himself into cut shots - the full MS Dhoni helicopter was on display here when an out of sorts Boyd Rankin dropped short - the way he scampers his runs with a pace that would leave a greyhound trailing - suggests a man that is utterly committed to the practical business of run scoring and will let others worry about style. Taylor maybe more artisan than artist, but he has a method that he understands and works for him. He doesn't need to change.
He had some fortune here, though. On the few occasions he allowed himself to be expansive, he offered chances. He was put down three times - on 8, 22 and 75 - and also caught off a no-ball. While the chances on 8 and 75 - both to the normally reliable Tim Ambrose - were not straightforward, the catch to Sam Hain, at point, should have been taken. Rankin and Barker were the unfortunate bowlers.
Warwickshire were also convinced they had Taylor caught behind off Jonathan Trott on 99. As a result, they declined to applaud his century.
"It's not the batsman's fault if the fielders keep dropping the ball," his coach, Mick Newell said afterwards. "I don't call that good luck, I just call it taking the most of your opportunity."
Ambrose, like the rest of his Warwickshire team, looked a little jaded having played through any number of aches, strains, bruises and bumps. They no longer have much to play for and the combination of a long season and a tinge of disappointment has taken the edge off their performance. There is talk of some discontent, but it looks like nothing a lengthy break from cricket - and maybe from each other - will not solve. There is no reason why both these teams should not challenge for the Championship next year.
Warwickshire will be doing it without their second-string keeper, Peter McKay, though. He has been released after struggling with injuries, while 24-year-old Staffordshire keeper Alex Mellor - who made a double-century for Staffordshire a few weeks ago - has been signed in his place. Warwickshire have also released the batsman Tom Lewis, while the seam-bowling allrounder Tom Milnes is likely to join Derbyshire for greater opportunity.
The pick of the bowlers here was Barker. He dismissed Alex Hales, set up by two inswingers and then guilty of nibbling at one angled across him that didn't swing, before Steven Mullaney was caught off the boot at gully after jabbing his bat down on another full swinging ball, and Brendan Taylor's innings was ended when he played around another inswinger. When Riki Wessels poked at an outswinger from Trott and Samit Patel was bowled round his legs as he attempted to flick into the leg side, Nottinghamshire were in some trouble.
But Chris Read helped Taylor add 124 for the sixth-wicket with Taylor. He was savage on the pull, merciless on both sides of the wicket if the ball was over-pitched and very quick to punish Jeetan Patel when he gave the ball a little flight. If Newell's hopes of overhauling Middlesex for second place in the table look optimistic, it is still possible.
"I don't think we'll be setting up a chase tomorrow. We want to finish second in the Championship and if we can pick up 12 or 13 points from this game then we will have a strong chance of getting past Middlesex in the last round of matches."
It is to be hoped that the aim does not convince Newell to ask Hales and Taylor to play in their final Championship game. They have long, emotionally draining winters ahead which could define their careers. And in 30 years time, the difference between second and third in the Championship season may not seem terribly important.
