James Taylor out to make up for lost time in crucial South Africa tour... and England fast bowler Steven Finn could still join him

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James Taylor heads for South Africa on Thursday armed with that oldest of sporting motivations: he is determined to make up for lost time.

If that sounds like a curious ambition for a 25-year-old, then Taylor is driven both by a desire to make the No 5 Test spot his own and a sense of frustration at a total of three caps since his debut in 2012.

And, after making a lively 76 during his Test comeback on a turning track in Sharjah last month, he is in the mood to show critics that he can handle the world's best seam attack on South Africa's lively surfaces too.

England's Jos Buttler (left) and James Taylor run between wickets during an ODI match against Pakistan

England batsman Taylor (left) is desperate to make up for lost time in the crucial South Africa tour this winter

'I think I've shown I can play pace in England and in Australia as well in the ODIs,' he said. 'Using the pace is something that I like to do, so hopefully the fast, bouncy tracks in South Africa might help my game. It's something I enjoy: cut and pull and take it to the opposition.'

A successful tour would confirm the last 12 months as the most eventful of Taylor's career.

He was denied a maiden international century by an umpiring blunder during the World Cup in February, captained England during a rain-ruined one-dayer in Dublin, then cemented his place on the recent UAE tour with a high-class one-day hundred against Australia at Old Trafford.

Now he has the chance to put right his long-ago Test debut against the South Africans, when a crucial stand of 147 with Kevin Pietersen at Headingley merely earned ridicule from his partner, who later wrote that he would have been better suited to being a jockey.

'I was not fussed at the time and I'm definitely not fussed now,' said Taylor. 'Everybody's entitled to their opinions. It's frustrating not playing in the last three years of Test cricket and people say it might have contributed.

England's Taylor and Buttler leave the pitch together at the end of an ODI match against Pakistan

A successful tour in South Africa would confirm the last 12 months as the most eventful of Taylor's career

'But maybe those frustrating few years have helped me become the player and be the person I am now. Hopefully I can make up for lost time, but first and foremost I've got to cement my place in the side.'

Meanwhile, fast bowler Steven Finn could still force his way on to the tour if he comes through England Lions' Twenty20 game against Pakistan A in Dubai on Friday.

Finn was not selected in the initial 16-man Test squad after suffering a stress injury to his left foot at the start of England's tour of the UAE, but his progress – aided by the rehab facilities at his beloved Watford FC – has been swifter than expected.

'I've had two and a half months now of not playing cricket and it's come to a point where I can start being realistic about going out to South Africa and hopefully playing a part over there,' he said.

'It's a fine balance between making sure that my foot is right and doing myself justice, and getting enough overs in practice.'

England fast bowler Steven Finn could still force his way on to the tour in South Africa

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