Fast bowler Taylor the answer to West Indies' prayers

MIAMIA, Feb 23 (Reuters) West Indies' long search for an opening bowler of genuine pace and ability may have been rewarded by the appearance of 22-year-old Jerome Taylor.

The lack of a world class strike bowler has been the single biggest factor behind the decline of Caribbean cricket and, not for the first time in the past decade, the responsibility is falling on young shoulders.

Taylor was given his first call-up into the West Indies side at the age of just 18 and with little experience of first class cricket.

His opening season for Jamaica had produced plenty of signals of his potential. But it was a devastating performance of eight for 59 in Jamaica's victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the 2003 Carib Beer Series which set tongues wagging.

He failed to take a wicket in his test debut against Sri Lanka in June 2003, but the way he handled the pressure of his opening game impressed skipper Brian Lara who promised that Taylor's talent would be handled with care.

A serious back injury in late 2003 put the paceman's career on hold and the West Indies' selectors resisted the temptation to rush him back until he had proved himself again in domestic competition.

He returned to the West Indies' side during the tour of New Zealand in 2006 and in the following home series against India he recorded his first five-wicket haul coming in front of his home fans at Kingston.

He again caught the eye with his late hat-trick in a 4-49 performance against Australia in the Champions Trophy in October.

Quick and with the ability to move the ball both ways off the seam, the World Cup will go a long way to determining whether he is the man who can finally end the West Indies' desperate search for a speedman.

Reuters AY DB1009