England Women's cricketer Sarah Taylor tipped for New Year return
Tuesday 20 December 2016 11:58, UK
Sarah Taylor is a ‘world-class’ performer who will be given every opportunity to return to the England fold, says ECB Director of Women’s Cricket Clare Connor.
Taylor announced earlier this year that she was taking an indefinite break from cricket due to suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.
At the time, the 27-year-old said she was '99 per cent certain' that she would return to cricket at some point, and everything points towards a comeback for the wicketkeeper-batswoman after she was one of 18 players awarded a two-year England central contract on Friday.
"We're really pleased with the progress Sarah has been making," Connor told Sky Sports News HQ.
"We obviously have not seen her in an England shirt for six or seven months now but everybody has got a far greater understanding of where she is at.
"She certainly understands her anxiety condition much better now and she's been really, really well supported. The signs are really promising for her to make a return, hopefully in the first quarter of next year.
"We want to back her. She's been a world-class performer for us and the team will be stronger for her being in it. Amy Jones has done brilliantly as her replacement but Sarah is certainly world-class - we want to back her - and we want her to know that we've got confidence in her to make a full return."
Taylor has played more than 100 One Day Internationals for England and averages 39.76. She was named ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2014 after winning the Women's T20I award for two years in succession.
