Homegrown, that’s how those involved with American cricket and the fans out there in the US like to describe Steven Taylor. A tall frame, strongly built, and a clean ball-striker, he is the complete package.

Born and raised in the southern state of Florida to Jamaican immigrant parents, he started off as a wicketkeeper-batter, and immediately sprung into recognition with his prolific scores in age-group cricket. At 15, he travelled with the USA senior team. At 16, he was playing T20 cricket. In 2010, he carried USA to victory in the ICC Americas under-19 championship. A year later, his consistent run saw USA romp into ICC World Cricket League Division Three.

 In 2013, with a 62-ball 101 against Bermuda, he became the first USA batter to score a T20 century. He currently is the country’s highest T20I run-scorer. He’s also one of the rare USA players to have a CPL contract, having represented the Barbados Tridents, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and the Jamaica Tallawahs. 

Into the MI New York side now in the MLC, he’s made his mark in the history books by becoming the first US-born player to be picked up in the Draft. That’s right, he’s someone the whole country will get behind. He is, after all, one of their own!