Talented Norfolk teenager Callum Taylor has taken another major step forward in his fledgling cricket career after being named in the next England Development Programme (EDP) squad.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has included the 17-year-old Norfolk CCC and Swardeston CC batsman in the 18-man EDP squad for 2014/15.

Taylor, who played his first games for the England Under-17s this summer, is now in with a chance of touring Australia with the EDP squad in March and April of next year.

It is the latest boost for the former Cromer High School pupil's career, after winning Essex CCC's academy player of the year award at the end of last month.

Taylor was regular for the Essex second XI this year, including scoring seven sixes in an unbeaten knock of 73 against Gloucestershire in May.

That follows the big-hitter becoming the youngest ever century maker for Norfolk last year, when he scored 127 against Staffordshire.

The EDP squad features players from across the England Under-17 and Under-19 age groups, and represents the first intake of players to be overseen by the ECB's new head of the EDP, Andy Hurry.

The squad will now take part in a series of short training camps at the National Cricket Performance Centre (NCPC) in Loughborough, ahead of an overseas development camp on the subcontinent in December and touring Australia ahead of the start of the 2015 English season.

EDP chairman of selectors, David Graveney, said: 'The composition of the 2014-2015 EDP squad represents a change in direction for the England Development Programme with the Under-19 and Under-17 age groups fully combined for the first time. 'This move has created one smaller squad of players for Andy Hurry and the rest of the coaching staff at the NCPC to work with more closely, and simultaneously gives the county academies greater ownership in developing their young players moving forwards.

'We believe that we have selected an outstanding 18-man EDP squad, and I am especially excited by the wealth of young talent currently coming through the development pathway.

'This group of players will now get the opportunity to take part in a training camp on the subcontinent before Christmas, followed by a challenging tour to Australia in March-April next year, providing two fantastic learning experiences of playing in contrasting conditions and environments.'

Taylor follows in the footsteps of Swardeston team-mate Matt Taylor – of no relation – who has previously been included in the EDP squad and remains on the books of Northants CCC.