Norfolk and Swardeston all-rounder Callum Taylor has been named in the England Under-19 squad for the upcoming junior Ashes series against Australia.

The former Cromer High School pupil was a key part of the England U19 team which was beaten 3-2 in a series in Australia earlier this year.

The 18-year-old plays for Essex CCC, where he is contracted until September 2016, and is a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) England Development Programme (EDP).

The ECB have announced two U19 squads for a five-match one-day series and one four-day fixture against their Australian counterparts – with Taylor named in both squads.

England begin the series with the standalone four-day match at the Emirates Durham ICG on August 4-7, followed by 50-over matches on August 11 (South Northumberland CC), 14 (Chesterfield CC), 17 (The 3aaa County Ground, Derbyshire), 20 (Grace Road, Leicestershire) and 22 August (New Road, Worcestershire).

Taylor is Norfolk CCC's youngest-ever century maker – scoring 127 against Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship at the age of 16 – and plays regularly for Essex seconds.

EDP chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: 'It is a very exciting summer for England cricket, with the men's Ashes level, the Women's Ashes getting under way in Taunton tomorrow, and this England U19 v Australia U19 series on the horizon next month.

'We have selected two separate and larger squads than normal, reflecting the number of young players currently featuring in first team county cricket. With the likes of Sam Curran and Mason Crane regularly playing first-class cricket for Surrey and Hampshire, head of the EDP, Andy Hurry, has carefully discussed what is best for the development of each individual player with their counties.

'Naming a large squad therefore enables us to be flexible and able to react should any of the selected players be called-upon to play first-team county cricket.

'Both sides know each other well, having played a hard-fought series in Australia just four months ago, and the matches this summer will once again form an important part of England's preparation for the 2016 ICC U19 World Cup in Bangladesh next February.'