James Taylor to make second Shrewsbury debut

Shropshire will play host to an England cricket international this weekend when rising star James Taylor returns to his schoolboy roots.

The 22-year-old will feature for Shrewsbury in their Birmingham League Premier Division home clash with Brockhampton on Saturday.

England Lions captain and Nottinghamshire batsman Taylor, who made a full one-day international appearance against Ireland last summer, is Shrewsbury's contracted player for the season.

And he has been given permission by his First Class county to make his seasonal bow for the London Road men.

It is a major coup for Shrewsbury with Taylor touted as an international star of the future having already racked up more than 5,000 First Class runs.

"The plan is for me to play on Saturday and I can't wait to come back," said Taylor, a former Shrewsbury School pupil who played nine games for the county town club in 2006.

"The guys were brilliant for me when I was playing at the club at 16 in the Premier Division and I'm really looking forward to getting back amongst it on Saturday.

"I will probably be the most nervous I will be all season.

"It was great to see them have a good win against (reigning champions) Barnt Green last weekend and hopefully we can get another on Saturday."

Taylor was due to make his 'second debut' for Shrewsbury against Wolverhampton last month, only to be called away to link-up with the England party during the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's.

And he is hoping to slot in more appearances for the 2010 Birmingham League champions and last year's National Knockout winners later in the season.

"It all depends how the fixtures work out but any time I can make myself available, I will do," he added.

Saturday's triumph over Barnt Green was their first league win of the campaign after a stuttering start and captain Ed Foster believes the availability of Taylor provides another timely boost.

"Hopefully the weather will be kind and we can get a good crowd in," he said.