YOUNG all-rounder Jack Taylor has set his sights on becoming a regular member of the Gloucestershire side next season.

The 20-year-old off spinner made his County Championship debut in 2010 and burst onto the one-day scene last year, finishing top of Gloucestershire’s bowling averages in the Friends Life T20 – outshining Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan – with eight wickets at 14.75 apiece.

He made a memorable debut in that competition when he took 4-16 and hit 38 in a man of the match performance against local rivals Somerset at Bristol and he also went on to take seven wickets at 21.57 in Clydesdale Bank 40.

Taylor had less success in his three County Championship appearances but has been working hard during the winter to try and establish himself as a genuine all-rounder in all forms of cricket.

“With my bowling it’s a question of improving my consistency,” he said.

“I want to put myself in the frame for selection in Championship games, as well as one-day cricket right from the word go.

“I also need to work on my one-day skills to achieve greater variety and get my yorkers in accurately.

“To become a Championship cricketer I have to put the ball in the right areas more often, which will make me more of a threat as a wicket-taker.

“There is a place in the team up for grabs for a spinner and it is a responsibility I want to shoulder this summer.

“As far as my batting is concerned, I view myself as a genuine all-rounder so potentially I want to operate in the middle order. Six or seven in Championship cricket would suit me.

“I batted up the order a couple of times in T20 cricket last year and I would like to think that might continue. Of course, for that to happen I need to get runs.”

While a new-look youthful Gloucestershire side exceeded expectations last season, Taylor is under no illusions that it will be tougher this time around, but he believes they will continue to make forward strides.

He said: “There is a massive feeling in the dressing room that we can build as a team on what we did last summer.

“We don’t have a huge squad, but there is a great work ethic among the lads and we are looking forward to playing some good hard cricket when the season gets underway.

“We have a lot of youngsters and for many of us last summer was our first as senior players. Other teams will now have seen us and worked out how to play against us.

“That means we will have to be better this year, but everyone has worked so hard that I firmly believe that will be the case.”