James Taylor made his first-class debut in 2008

Leicestershire batsman James Taylor says he cannot wait for the new cricket season to get underway.

The 20-year-old is currently playing for the MCC against the 2009 County Champions Durham, under the floodlights in Abu Dhabi.

Taylor told BBC Sport: "I am itching to get back and start the county season and I am raring to go.

"There's a big season ahead. I have worked very hard over the winter both with Tim Boon and the England set-up."

The youngster, who made his England Lions debut against Pakistan A in Dubai in February, is currently the PCA Young Cricketer of the Year.

Taylor has a first-class average of 50 and become the first teenager in Leicestershire's history to hit a double hundred, in a Championship game against Surrey last season.

The new campaign gets underway this month and Leicestershire's first championship game is against Northamptonshire, beginning on Friday, 9 April.

"We have good mix of youth and experience," added Taylor. "We have some real experience there, especially with the signing of Matthew Hoggard.

"We have some really good young players too. We have plenty of good young bowlers and young batters."

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