Sarah Taylor ready for the next step towards rediscovering her true self: "I've been missing that girl"

NICK HOWSON: The former England wicketkeeper's return to the sport has been gradual. Working with Bede's School, then as the first specialist coach in men's county cricket at Sussex. A contract with Welsh Fire for The Hundred completes the journey

Sarah Taylor's road back to happiness

The Hundred squads 2021: Full men's and women's player lists

The Hundred: Men's and women's fixtures

It was meant to be just a net. A chance to wipe the dust off the kitbag, literally, and roll back the years to when she was one of the best.

But as is often the case, the taste of nostalgia only whets the appetite. A hit delayed by Covid-19 has helped bring Sarah Taylor fully out of the shadows and back into the domestic game where at the very least she deserves to be.

And while the relentlessness of the international game might have been the thing which pushed her away from the sport, it is only fitting that her return comes amid star-studded company in The Hundred with Cardiff-based Welsh Fire.

Since being able to manage the mental health problems which affected her England career, which Taylor called time on in September 2019, her return to the sport has been a slow trickle effect.

It began with a return to Bede's School, a role which she told The Cricketer in January was solely linked to a desire to "do something and not get recognition for it". An apt description in the same month she was named in the women's ICC team of the decade, having been among the shortlist for the best player prize, eventually won by Ellyse Perry.

Earlier this month that continued with her historic appointment as Sussex wicketkeeping coach, becoming the first female to hold a specialist coaching role at a men's county team. Taylor was already guaranteed to be a regular on the circuit.

The next step takes her back into a zone that contributed to pushing Taylor away 18 months ago. But a fuller life means an environment that used to provoke a feeling of fear is an altogether more welcoming one.

"I haven't got much to lose by playing," a refreshed Taylor admitted. "I could have the worst tournament in the world and love every minute. I've still got coaching with Sussex and I get to play a little bit of cricket on centre stage again which is really nice.

"I never felt grounded playing for England. I was very much always away. I bought a flat but I was barely in it. My full-time job now is my grounder, my feet are firmly on the ground and I can now enjoy my cricket."

The pressures of international cricket drummed the panache out of Taylor. Three World Cup wins might have bought the best out of the 31-year-old with the bat, but it was rarely an enjoyable experience.

Aptly, given the 100-ball competition will require attacking intent from the outset, Taylor has rediscovered her love for batting once again.

^{Taylor will be part of Sussex's backroom team alongside her playing return}

"I was batting like I was young," she said of the net which reignited her passion. "I've been missing that girl and I wanted to get back to that. I've become a more rounded, balanced person and that has helped me get that girl back. It has been a horrendous time but personally a good journey for me. 

"I played everything on the front-foot when I was younger and took the attack to the bowler. I didn't play any backfoot shots at all, I was looking to dominate down the ground, over extra, mid-wicket with a little bit of flair. 

"Apart from all the sweeps and ramps in the latter end of my career I didn't necessarily hit much down the ground, I didn't play how I used to play I sat on the backfoot ready to play those kinds of shots with no confidence doing what I used to do.

"It was nice to feel that ego, that aggression and almost dismissiveness which I used to have as a player. I'm a big believer you need arrogance as a batter, particularly in the shorter form and I lost that completely. To get that back was nice and enjoyable."

Though she faces a scrap with Beth Mooney for the gloves at Fire, there will be much anticipation surrounding Taylor's return behind the stumps. She recently spent an hour back in her rightful place and while her footwork isn't what it used to be yet, she assures "I haven't lost it. The hands took over and they've still got it".

It is likely that the former Adelaide Strikers star will pop up at least a few times, probably for Sussex, before The Hundred gets underway on July 21.

^{Taylor will link up with Australia's Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney in Cardiff}

Taylor is well aware that her return is part of something much bigger. Women's cricket will cross the divide like never before, with double-headers laden across the schedule, prize money equal and all matches on either BBC or Sky Sports.

She believes this is the biggest moment for the sport since England scooped the 2017 World Cup on home soil in front of a sold-out Lord's.

"You look at the gravity of this tournament for women's cricket," she stated "last year was tough for a lot of people and it still is. 

"A lot of these girls have the chance to play cricket and earn some money, instead of getting a job. That fell through and this is an opportunity to do something that they love and get rewarded for it. 

"If we can keep pushing that and keep going hopefully this tournament will be a massive success and go from there and keep pushing the women's game as we should be."

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