Close season arrival Calum Haggett says he has the taste for first-team action after an impressive debut with bat and ball at Leicester.

The 22-year-old all-rounder, who came through the ranks at Somerset, signed for the 2013 season after impressing on trial with Kent 2nds towards the end of last summer.

With a side strain expected to limit Darren Stevens’ bowling capability at Grace Road last week, Haggett (pictured) was included in place of specialist batsman Daniel Bell-Drummond, a former schoolmate at Millfield in Somerset.

The former England under-19s player, who bats left-handed but bowls right-arm medium pace, made an impressive debut. He cracked 40 before being last man out in Kent’s first innings of 406 and then took the first three wickets to fall in the hosts’ reply, eventually finishing with 3-79 from his 23 overs.

Haggett said: "I was a bit surprised when I heard I was in the squad to travel up and then I was excited the following day when I was told I was in the team. It was a fantastic feeling and I was happy."

He added: "I had a few nerves before the game and when I went out to bat but the pitch was a good one to ease me in and I enjoyed it.

"It was hard work, bowling out there, but it was good to get a few wickets and put a marker down for the season. I was pleased, although I went for a few more runs than I would have liked but it was always going to be difficult on that pitch.

"It was a good team performance but also for me personally. It was just a shame that we couldn’t get the result we wanted."

Haggett missed out on a place in the squad for this week’s trip to Lancashire, instead being named in the 2nds’ side for a friendly with Durham in Essex.

He said: "I am looking to try and get back in as soon as I can.

I’ll keep trying to put in good performances when I get the chance. I have got the taste for it now."