DUBAI: England batsman James Taylor on Saturday vowed to grab his chance to stage a comeback in the national side in a forthcoming three-match series against Pakistan, three years after playing two Tests before being discarded.

The 25-year-old is part of the England squad which will start the series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi from Oct 13, but Taylor will have to vie for a place by scoring runs in the two preceding side games.

Taylor admitted it was a frustrating wait for his chance after playing against South Africa in 2012.

“It has been a frustrating few years trying to get into the side and its taken a while,” said Taylor after team’s training session in Dubai. “But it has come around again and that’s something I relish being back in the squad.”

England start the tour with a two-day side game in Sharjah from Monday before the second warm-up game at the same venue on Oct 8 and 9 — both against Pakistan ‘A’.

Recalled into the side after notching 1,078 runs for Nottinghamshire in the last county season, Taylor is keen to stake his claim in the Tests.

“I had a good season last year, enviable cricket for Notts and England and that’s give me an opportunity to get back into the Test side.

“I know it will be tough conditions but it’s an opportunity to try and stake claims to get in the side. We have got two opportunities in the side games so it’s an opportunity for me to pull things around and score some runs.”

Taylor said he feels more confident than in 2012. “Obviously three more years of experience is on my side and that has helped me and the confidence knowing that I have scored runs against the best sides in the world now.”

Taylor added that he was ready to face a spin assault by Pakistan, something England succumbed to in 2012 when they were routed 3-0, also in United Arab Emirates.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (24 wickets) and left-armer Abdur Rehman (19 wickets) shared the spoils in 2012 while their voids will be ably filled by leg-spinner Yasir Shah and left-armer Zulfiqar Babar this time around.

Published in Dawn October 4th, 2015

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