“If I get another go in the next game, it’s up to me to take that opportunity again”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Despite making a superb 90 in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, England batsman James Taylor has announced that he is unsure whether he will retain his place in the squad for the fifth ODI in Pallekele.

However, Taylor’s career-best score of 90 was not enough as Sri Lanka went on to win the match by six wickets with two balls to spare.

“It was nice for me personally to contribute to the team, obviously my first game for a while,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m delighted to score a few, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the team’s cause.  It might have been a one-off opportunity for me, so I managed to score a few runs.

“Hopefully I get another go. But I’ll take each day as it comes, the classic cliché, but I’m really not sure when my next opportunity comes.

“If I get another go in the next game, it’s up to me to take that opportunity again, and hopefully post a total that the team can defend. And hopefully I can put in another couple of decent performances to get me on that plane (to the World Cup).

“But like I say, we’ve got a few more games coming up. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways, and I can help the team score.”

Even though he stands at 5ft 6in, Taylor stated that it would be a grave mistake to underestimate him.

“I’d like to think I’m not the smallest guy to play cricket,” he said. “I don’t believe size matters. I can pack a decent punch for my size – and, as long as you can hit the ball over the rope, it doesn’t matter what size you are.”