FORMER Oxfordshire all-rounder Jack Taylor has been appointed Gloucestershire captain for the Vitality T20 Blast.

The 28-year-old, who came through at Great & Little Tew, was made vice captain across all formats in 2018.

And he will now lead the county, who start their T20 campaign next week against Northamptonshire Steelbacks, following the retirement of Michael Klinger.

Taylor said: “It’s an honour to be given the T20 captaincy for this season.

“I know that I have big shoes to fill following on from Maxy’s leadership, but I am excited for the challenge and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Taylor is seventh on the all-time Gloucestershire T20 scorers list with 928 runs at a strike rate of just under 150.

Richard Dawson, Gloucestershire’s head coach, said: “He is one of the more senior players in the squad and now has the chance to lead the team and create something of his own.”

A destructive middle-order batsman, Taylor scored 193 runs in last season’s competition, including 42 off 20 balls at home to Essex.

He has long been a key player in limited overs cricket and producded a man-of-the-match display in Gloucestershire’s 2015 Royal London Cup final win against Surrey at Lord’s.