South Africa v England: James Taylor targeting 3-0 series win

By Jefferson Lake

James Taylor says England are aiming to end the series on a high

James Taylor says England want to finish their South Africa series on a high by clinching a 3-0 win at Centurion next week.

England wrap up the Test portion of their tour having secured a series victory over the Proteas following a seven-wicket win in Johannesburg.

The two sides will then play five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches before England return home in late February, but Taylor's current focus is only on putting the finishing touches on a big Test series triumph.

"It's huge - from a personal point of view getting my first Test series win under my belt was massive," Taylor told Sky Sports News HQ.

"We came over here as a unit to beat the No 1 team in the world in South Africa and we have done that. It was a massive challenge and we have done it. It's really rewarding.

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"The boys have worked seriously hard. They have put in some outstanding performances the whole way through the series.

Watch this sensational catch at short leg by Taylor

"In the lead-up to the Centurion game we will give it all we have got. We owe it to the supporters and to ourselves to put in a massive performance at Centurion and go away with a 3-0 win."

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By his own admission, Taylor has had something of a mixed series, following scores of 70 and 42 in the first Test at Durban with a duck and 27 at Cape Town before two single-figure innings in the third Test and the 26-year-old admits  he is "desperate" to post some big scores.

We came over here as a unit to beat the number one team in the world in South Africa and we have done that. It was a massive challenge and we have done it.
James Taylor

"I'm feeling like I'm in a really good place," he said. "On the flat one I missed the boat at Cape Town but that happens.

"I felt really good at Durban and scored some runs.  Hopefully I can put in a really big performance at Centurion and finish on a high.

"I feel really comfortable in myself and my position on the team. Like anybody they always want more big runs and I'm desperate to get that big scoring under my belt so hopefully that'll come sooner rather than later."

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