James Taylor: England batsman awarded increment contract

James Taylor was denied a World Cup century against Australia after the match officials wrongly adjudged that last man James Anderson had been run out

Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor has been awarded an England increment contract after playing 10 one-day internationals in the past 12 months.

The 16 England central contracts awarded each year are usually limited to those who play Test cricket.

Increment contracts are granted to county players who feature regularly in England's limited-overs teams.

Taylor, 25, scored an unbeaten 98 in England's World Cup opener defeat to Australia in Melbourne on Saturday.

It was Taylor's 10th appearance for England's one-day international side since December 2014.

Non-contracted players can earn an England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) increment contract via a points system.

Five points are awarded for a Test appearance and two for a Twenty20 or ODI appearance, with the ECB automatically awarding an increment contract once the player reaches 20 points during the 12-month contract period.

Twelve-times capped Taylor, who made his ODI debut against Ireland in Dublin in 2011, featured in four ODIs against Sri Lanka in December and five ODIs against Australia and India during the recent tri-series in January and February.