Born in Kimberley on 16 June 1873, Ben Taylor was a fast right-arm bowler and useful right-hand batsman. He made his Notts debut in the two-day friendly versus Staffordshire at Trent Bridge in August 1897. In 1898 he played in friendlies away at Northants and Worcester. He made a brilliant First-Class debut for Notts taking 4-28 and 5-37 versus MCC at Lord’s on 9 and 10 June 1902 as Notts won by an innings and 43 runs. He played a further three First-Class games in 1902 but achieved little. Although he played for Notts until 1909 his appearances were somewhat sporadic with 11 matches in 1906 a personal high, he did not appear in either the 1904 or 1907 seasons. He twice took five wickets an innings in the Championship - 5-108 v Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1905 and 6-109 v Surrey at Trent Bridge in 1908. His highest First-Class score was 54no v Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1908, adding 119 with Bert Hallam in 70 minutes for the ninth wicket. In 31 First-Class matches for Notts he scored 379 runs @12.63 and took 85 wickets @32.82.
Taylor’s first professional cricket engagement was at Minehead and he was subsequently engaged at Leek, Rawtenstall (1902) Accrington (1904-05), and Rochdale. He then played for Kimberley Institute for around 30 years. Originally a miner he became a landlord of four pubs - The Highland Laddie Inn and the Northern Hotel at Kimberley and the Miners Arms and the Wellington Inn in Eastwood.
Benjamin Williamson Taylor died in Eastwood on 24 August 1938 aged 65 years.
May 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 272