James Taylor has been added to the Notts Outlaws squad for tonight’s NatWest T20 Blast fixture against the Birmingham Bears.

The 25-year-old has missed out on selection for the second Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand at the Kia Oval, and has therefore been released to play in the game.

Taylor, who has made 84 Twenty20 appearances during his career and took over limited-overs captaincy of Notts in 2014, will now lead the side as they aim to complete the double over the reigning champions. 

Riki Wessels, who had earlier in the week been nominated as stand-in captain, will instead commence his temporary leadership of the side in the LV= County Championship fixture against Somerset starting on Sunday.

“It's important that James keeps playing,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell. "He's very much in the England frame; he's in the squad and he's in that group of the best one-day players in the country. Any chance he gets to show his worth between England matches is worth taking. 

"If the fixtures fall right, as this one obviously does, and it gives him an opportunity to play, it's much better than having a net. If he is required by England on Sunday, or on Wednesday at Trent Bridge, he'll be in a much better place to be able to play well having spent some time in the middle.

"From our perspective it's a huge bonus to get him back in the team. If you look at our performances last year, going in at five was a very strong position for him in Twenty20 cricket and that's where we want to use him; batting in the middle order, controling the tempo of the innings in the middle and playing aggressively against spin bowling.

"He stays very calm, he has a very good record of being not out at the end of an innings and he finishes games off for us. If he can do that tonight, I'm sure we'll make an impressive score."

Notts Outlaws squad to face Birmingham Bears (from): Jake Ball, Luke Fletcher, Will Gidman, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brett Hutton, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Darren Sammy, Greg Smith, Brendan Taylor, James Taylor, Riki Wessels, Sam Wood and Luke Wood.

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

v Northants Steelbacks – Saturday 27 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 3 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 10 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.