Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who joined the West Indies team earlier this week for the upcoming series against England, said he was eagerly looking forward to the challenge.

The athletic 24-year-old was comfortable as he bowled in the nets at Derby County Club yesterday, as the West Indies had a three-hour training session in prepa-ration for the four-day first-class match against Eng-land Lions, which starts today.

Team spirit

"Everything went well and I'm feeling all right. It's a matter of getting back in the groove and doing the job," Taylor said. "Each and every moment I go on the park I look to do well - for West Indies, for my country, for myself and my family.

"It is always a pleasure to be among the boys (West Indies team). I missed being among the boys when I was not playing, so I'm happy to be back. We all get along well together and we have a good team spirit."

Taylor has displayed his all-round talents in recent months. In December he made his maiden Test century against New Zealand in Dunedin and in February he took best Test figures of 5-11, as the West Indies beat England in Jamaica and went on to claim the Digicel series and the prestigious Wisden Trophy.

Upbeat

Taylor added that he was eagerly looking forward to the challenge of facing England again in the upcoming two-match Test series.

"I'm very, very upbeat about this tour and I'm looking forward to doing very well. We have the ammunition, but as we all know, cricket is played on the day, or in this case, over five days. We have to do the basics and play with confidence."

The first Test will be at Lord's from May 6-10, while the second Test is at Riverside Ground at Chester-le-Street, starting on May 14.