Taylor extends Leicestershire deal

James Taylor opens up in his unbeaten 207 against Surrey which made him the fifth youngest double centurion in England

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Promising batsman James Taylor has committed to Leicestershire by signing a new three-year contract to keep him at the club until 2012.

Taylor had previously signed a deal which ran through until the end of the 2011 season, but he is now contracted for a further year.

The 19-year-old right-hander had a stellar year for his county last season, scoring over 1,200 first class and 700 one-day runs.

He also became the fifth youngest player to score a double century in first-class cricket in England when he scored an unbeaten 207 at Brit Oval.

Taylor was rewarded for his form by inclusion in the B category of this winter's England Performance Programme in South Africa.

Leicestershire chief executive David Smith said: “I am delighted that James has signed a new contract with the club until September 2012.

“He has been through our age group system and started playing for Leicestershire Under-11s in 2002. This is exactly the young player development pipeline that the club are trying to produce and sustain.

“Following James’ success of last season and inclusion in the ECB winter training and development camps, we wanted to give James a new contract that reflected his outstanding performances in both four-day and one-day cricket during last season.

“We want James to act as a role model to all our young aspiring Leicestershire and Rutland cricketers currently in our development system wanting to play first-class cricket for the club.”