Steven Taylor to captain USA in Auty Cup

Steven Taylor, the left-handed opening batsman, has been chosen to captain USA at the Auty Cup, which begins on October 13, and the World Cricket League Division Four, which starts on October 29 in Los Angeles.

Taylor, 22, made his first tour with USA in 2008, at the age of 15, and eventually debuted as a 16-year-old in 2010. He has turned out 57 times for USA, including 21 50-over matches in which he averages 32, with a high score of 162 against Nepal in 2013. He has spent the last two years with Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League, and skipped USA's last tournament - the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland last summer - to play for Tridents.

"Steven's game sense in the field is very good. Tactically, he is quite advanced for a young cricketer," USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake said on Wednesday. "With his big-game experience in both the CPL and national colours, his knowledge of his team-mates, and the respect they have for him, I know his leadership will play a key role in our future success."

Taylor takes over from offspinner Muhammad Ghous, who was axed from the side after captaining USA last year at the World T20 Qualifier. Taylor has leadership experience at the Under-15 and Under-19 levels, and said he is eager to assume his new responsibility.

"I'm really excited to be appointed captain and have the opportunity to lead my country," Taylor said. "I know the entire squad has been working hard to make the most out of the upcoming Auty Cup and work towards our goal of winning World Cricket League Four."

This is not the first time Taylor has been appointed captain. He was picked to lead USA at the age of 19, as a stand-in for the unavailable Steve Massiah, during the previous Auty Cup in Canada in the summer of 2013.

However, he was stripped off the role before he could lead the side onto the field, after a late-night drinking incident while on tour as captain of the USA Under-19 side in July 2013. Taylor was also handed a one-match ban for "a breach of the team code of conduct and tour protocols," including breaking curfew on the U-19 tour. Timil Patel led the men's side for the 2013 Auty Cup, where they failed to win a match.

ICC Americas also announced that Anand Tummala will work as an assistant coach, alongside Dassanayake for the Auty Cup and WCL Division Four. Tummala, a former USA player who also played in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi, was a finalist for the head coach's role that eventually went to Dassanayake. Most recently, Tummala coached USA Women against a touring Marylebone Cricket Club women's team in Philadelphia last month.