A year to the day since Nottinghamshire announced the signing of Brendan Taylor, we look back on the four centuries that illuminated his debut season with the Club.
The former Zimbabwe international posted 1,070 first class runs in 2015 at an average of 35.66, cementing a position at the top of the order.
9 April – 105 vs Loughborough MCCU at Trent Bridge
Taylor had barely touched down in the UK when he was striding out at Trent Bridge for the first time, opening the batting in the traditional county season curtain raiser against student opposition.
It’s therefore perhaps not surprising that he was lbw for nine in the first innings.
However, not to be denied his valuable time in the middle, the imposing right-hander wrote his name into the Nottinghamshire record books with a century.
Taylor scored 105 off 111 balls with 15 fours and two sixes, becoming only the 12th player in the county’s history to register a hundred in his maiden first class match.
12 April – 106 vs Middlesex at Lord’s
Brendan Taylor entered the Nottinghamshire record books for the second time in a week, with a century on the opening day of the new LV= County Championship season.
The former Zimbabwe international scored 106 as Notts reached 298 for nine on the first day of their match against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Taylor faced 188 balls & hit 14 fours to become the first player in the county’s history to score hundreds in his initial two first class matches for Nottinghamshire.
Taylor reached his fifty soon after lunch, reaching the milestone from 105 balls, with 7 fours and celebrating by lifting Murtagh back over his head for another boundary.
With James Taylor playing a high-quality innings at the other end, the Middlesex bowlers were put to the sword as the pair advanced their stand into three figures.
On 93, Brendan Taylor faced James Harris from the Nursery End. A cover-driven four was followed by a similar shot allowing the pair to scamper the three that were needed. The century came from 160 balls, with 14 fours.
View the highlights of Brendan Taylor's century at Lord's here...
28 April – 103 vs Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl
Taylor followed hundreds against Loughborough MCCU and Middlesex with his third century in four first class matches for his new county.
Taylor displayed his full repertoire of shots, including some innovative reverse sweeps and a couple of lusty blows down the ground, as the visitors added quick runs in an attempt to setup a winning position.
On 97 Taylor drilled the ball firmly back towards bowler Dawson, but the finger-stinger didn’t stick and two balls later the Zimbabwean reached his century.
Dawson got his revenge shortly afterwards, getting the opener out lbw having faced 120 balls with 12 fours.
View the highlights of Brendan Taylor's century at the Ageas Bowl here...
14 June – 152 vs Somerset at Taunton
An eye-catching century from the flashing blade of Taylor was the highlight of the opening day at Taunton.
The right-hander scored 152 out of a close of play score of 391 for six, scoring his runs from exactly 200 balls, which included one huge six and 20 fours.
The former Zimbabwe captain was at the very peak of his powers in a majestic display of strokeplay and he received excellent support from Michael Lumb, who scored 73 in a third wicket partnership of 157.
Taylor’s hundred was the 26th of his first class career and was his highest score for Notts. During the course of his innings he also went past 7,000 first class runs.
Taylor found a novel way of dealing with Trego, lifting three short deliveries up and over the keeper’s head for boundaries.
Tim Groenewald was clattered into the base of the Somerset Stand to take Taylor into the nineties.
Another boundary, his 16th, off the same bowler, took Taylor to his fourth century for the county – coming from just 128 balls.
He celebrated by lifting Groenewald for the first six of the match, high into the building work at the Old Pavilion end of the ground.
View the highlights of Brendan Taylor's century at Taunton here...
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.