Norfolk turn to Swardeston 16-year-old
Swardeston bowler Callum Taylor. Photo: Steve Adams
Swardeston prodigy Callum Taylor will make his senior Norfolk debut against Northumberland at Manor Park on Sunday – at the age of 16 years and 26 days.
In terms of days alone that would make him the equal youngest player to represent Norfolk in the Minor Counties Championship along with Sam Arthurton.
But the Great Witchingham opener technically remains top of the list – having apparently been younger by five hours and ten minutes when he became Norfolk's youngest post-war debutant against Buckinghamshire in 2008.
Taylor, who made his East Anglian Premier League debut for Swardeston when he was only 14 – making 60 against Cambridge Granta at The Common – makes his senior county bow on the opening day of the Norfolk Cricket Festival.
The Essex Academy prospect, who recently left Cromer High School, goes into the weekend in superb form, having hit Swardeston into the quarter-finals of the ECB Cockspur Cup 45-overs competition on Sunday with 89 not out off 90 balls – see story left.
Ironically Arthurton is one of five potential would-be starters who was not available for selection. He is on Essex 2nds duty, Luke Caswell has just become a father and both of this season's wicket-keepers, Stephen Gray and Sam Groves, are unavailable, as was Harry Bush.
Norwich glovesman Jason Blake therefore gets his second Norfolk outing behind the stumps – three years after his debut in the 'scores level draw' against Cumberland at Furness. Horsford's Nathan Perry-Warnes opens in place of Arthurton and, along with Blake, Ben France and Ryan Findlay, makes his 'home' Championship debut.
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After opening the Festival against Northumberland, Norfolk face Buckinghamshire (July 21-23) and Lincolnshire (August 4-6).
Norfolk team: JM Spelman (Gt Witchingham), ND Perry-Warnes (Horsford), BJ France (Clacton), TR Ward (Leicester Ivanhoe), PA Lambert (Swardeston), CJ Taylor (Swardeston), RJ Findlay (Northant), C Brown (capt, Horsford), MP Eccles (Swardeston), KJ Bunting (Gt Witchingham).
