Callum Taylor: Glamorgan relishing going up against the best

We get the season under way against Yorkshire at Headingley on Thursday, the first of our games in a group that also contains Lancashire, Sussex, Kent and Northamptonshire.

Only ourselves and Sussex were meant to be in Division Two before the pandemic changed plans last year. That means the standard is going to be high and we are looking to rise to the challenge.

We prepared for the start of the campaign with a friendly against a star-studded Somerset last week when we managed to get a four-wicket win.

Going up against Test-quality players is what it's all about and we can't wait to learn from the coming months.

We have a young squad and if we can string together a few performances and get some wins then that will stand us in good stead for the coming years.

It's about learning and gaining experience against quality attacks and batting line-up. Playing against the best will only make us better.

We can see how they go about business and gain confidence from strong performances against them.

30.03.21 Glamorgan v Cardiff UCCE, Pre-season Friendly - Callum Taylor of Glamorgan (Picture: HUW EVANS AGENCY/GLAMORGAN)

We know that will be underdogs in most games but we have the talent to cause more than a few problems if anybody misjudges us.

Pre-season went really well and in these tough times I am just grateful to be able to train and play, especially when we were in lockdown and most people had to just sit at home.

I suppose you just get used to the protocols that are put in place with the temperature checks, training in smaller groups, one-way systems and so on.

In normal times I would have gone back to Australia after last season but a combination of prices for flights and the quarantine situation meant I stayed here.

It was a good chance for me to have a winter here for a good pre-season and a few of the staff members were keen for me to be on board for a good block of training.

I want to kick on after last year when I broke into the team after not really knowing where I would fit into the squad because of the really short pre-season.

I knew that I would be involved in the white-ball team but it was pleasing that I got to show what I can do when the chance came with the red ball – I couldn't have asked for more than a century on debut in Northampton!

A lot of people don't really see me as a red-ball player but I completely disagree; I feel it's my best format and one that I take pride on.

I was pleased that I made the step up to first-class cricket but you have to keep setting new goals and I want to cement my spot.

I'm the type of person that always strives for more and I feel that I didn't play to my potential in the T20 last year.

Glamorgan cricketer Callum Taylor.

Improving in one-day cricket is a big goal, but that's for further down the line and I want to prove myself in the championship first against some quality teams.

I want to put in some good performances and hopefully club cricketers will get the chance to do the same before long.

I earned my chance at Glamorgan thanks to playing at Newport and I still look forward to playing for them when the opportunities come around.

It's disappointing that club cricket has been delayed again after it was pretty much ruined last summer.

People want to play for the social aspect of the game and it's also where you develop as a player, with younger individuals perhaps catching the eye to break into the Minor Counties or Glamorgan seconds.

Players will want a season with good, hard cricket that has a competitive edge, so hopefully it won't be too long until they get the green light.