Double Trouble: The Remarkable Cricketing Journey of Identical Twins Mary and Millie Taylor
Interviewing cricketers Mary and Millie Taylor is like seeing double. The 20-year-old identical twins are so alike that even their coach, Georgia Adams, struggles to tell them apart. Growing up attending Bede's School, the sisters would sometimes swap lessons, but on the cricket pitch, their bowling styles make it easy to distinguish between them. Mary is a right-arm seamer, while Millie is the only professional female in the country to bowl left-arm wrist-spin. As mirror twins, they are literal mirror images of each other.
Their early years in cricket were shaped by back-garden rivalry, with Mary always being the seamer and Millie starting out as a keeper. Millie got the idea to bowl left-arm leg spin from watching their brother Henry bowl right-arm leg-spin. Both sisters are now professional cricketers, having recently played in The Hundred. Despite being apart for the first time last winter due to professional commitments, they continue to support each other in their cricketing careers.
Mary was offered a contract at Hampshire, while Millie had to move 200 miles away to Birmingham to play for Warwickshire. Despite initial doubts about the distance, Mary encouraged Millie to take the opportunity. This season, they were reunited in The Hundred, but Millie's season was cut short due to a broken finger. Their parents have been avid supporters, attending as many matches as possible, even hiding behind trees during intense moments.
The sisters' rivalry continues on the cricket field, with both excelling in their respective teams. While Millie was the leading wicket-taker in a recent competition, Mary's team is poised to reach the Women's One Day Cup final. The competitive spirit that began in their Eastbourne back garden remains a driving force for these talented mirror twins.