Promising Norfolk and Swardeston batsman Callum Taylor has signed a two-year contract with Essex CCC.

The 17-year-old has progressed through the Essex academy and his progress has seen him named in the England Development Programme (EDP) squad.

Now the England Under-17 player has committed his future to his club, the former Cromer High School pupil can focus on winter training in India and Sri Lanka with the EDP and potentially touring Australia in March and April.

Taylor's deal was announced alongside new contracts for bowlers Jamie Porter and Tom Moore, with the trio all committing until September 2016.

Norfolk CCC's youngest-ever century maker – scoring 127 against Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship at the age of 16 – was a regular for the Essex second XI this year.

He scored a half century in the second XI Championship final against Leicestershire at The Essex County Ground in September, as well as seven sixes in an unbeaten knock of 73 against Gloucestershire in May.

Taylor was also a key part of the Swardeston side which won the East Anglian Premier League title for the third season in succession.

Essex head coach Paul Grayson said: 'Jamie (Porter) has shown excellent promise this season, firstly with Barry Hyam in the second team, and of course since he made his debut for the first team. The same goes for Callum, who is a promising young all-rounder.

'We are delighted with the progress all three are making and see them as an important part of our future. It is something we are really committed to here at Essex, namely developing our youth players and giving them a chance to play first XI cricket.'

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