James Taylor keen to get back in the Test reckoning for England

Taylor is set to be in the thick of the action for England against Australia at Lord's on Saturday as the hosts try to level the one-day international score at 1-1 with three more to play.

The diminutive batsman, deployed at number three in the absence of the rested Joe Root in England's defeat at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday, fell just a single short of what would have been his sixth ODI 50 in only 18 innings to date spread over four years.

Taylor also has two Test caps on his CV but found himself cast aside at the end of the 2012 summer in which he twice faced up to perhaps the best pace-bowling attack in world cricket - against South Africa's Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel at Headingley and Lord's.

England will name their Test team to travel at the end of the month to take on Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates immediately after the conclusion of this ODI series - and Taylor knows runs, even in a different format, will not go amiss.

"I am desperate to get back in the Test team, and cement my spot in the ODI team," said the 25-year-old.

"The UAE would be a great opportunity, if given that chance, because I love playing spin as well - and there will be a lot bowled out there."

Taylor has established fine credentials with Leicestershire and, for the past four seasons, Nottinghamshire - averaging more than 52 in List A cricket and almost 47 in first-class matches.

He said: "Runs are runs, regardless of format.

"I will always try and score runs and stake a claim.

"As long as you are doing the right things and winning games for the side you are playing in, that's crucial - and makes a statement to the selectors."

His record with England could easily have earned him more caps by now.

"I have shown glimpses of what I can do in the past couple of years in international cricket, and it's up to me to stamp my authority on the number three spot," he added.

"Joe may be resting. But I want to be in this squad for as long as possible, and make it as hard as possible to be left out.

"It's up to me to do that."

Taylor was surprisingly omitted from the squad which went on to beat New Zealand in June, despite having captained his country for the first time in a rain-wrecked ODI against Ireland in Dublin just a month earlier.

He admits he was "bitterly disappointed", but was not about to dwell on it - and returned to lead Nottinghamshire's limited-overs teams to significant effect.

He enjoys the responsibility, and added: "I have captained from a young age, in the Lions.

"As I look back, I can say I have captained England - even if it was by default.

"That was a special moment."