The following extract features in an extended article in the next edition of Covered, the Official Magazine of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

Steadfastly determined to secure a place in England’s Test Match batting line-up, James Taylor is a man with a plan. 

Ruthlessly focussed on adding to his two caps, he has enhanced his status in the game significantly since moving to Nottinghamshire in 2012 and recently committed to a new contract tying him to Trent Bridge until the end of the 2016 season.

“People are always keen to remind me that I’m only 23 but I know that I could be playing a bit higher given the opportunity,” he said.

“It does frustrate me because I want to be there as soon as I can. I’m very greedy in that sense because I’m never satisfied with what I’ve got.

“I’ll always be pushing myself and working to make the next step. If I get back into Test cricket again, I’ll work that bit harder to stay there.”

Taylor credits his parents with instilling the drive and determination that has got him to this point. Sporting pedigree in his family has largely been confined to horse riding where siblings and cousins have gained representative honours.

He made his first class debut for Leicestershire in 2008, setting Grace Road alight by becoming the first teenager to score a thousand runs in a season in his second campaign. His double-century against Surrey saw him become the youngest Leicestershire player to achieve such a feat. England Lions recognition followed and the England selectors were forced to question whether Taylor was the real deal or whether he was simply destroying inferior attacks in division two.

His move to Trent Bridge was designed to answer that question and, with a year of his contract remaining, a deal was struck to secure his services.

“I moved to division one to test myself at the top level and that meant scoring runs consistently against better bowlers,” he said.

“In the first year it was a big challenge but now I feel that I’ve bedded in and my scores have improved. I feel that I’ve progressed nicely and my cricket, and my statistics, have moved forwards.”

Members can read the full interview, as well as an in-depth look into the Notts Outlaws' trophy-winning Yorkshire Bank 40 campaign and much more.

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