LONDON: Nottinghamshire and England batsman James Taylor has been forced to retire at the age of just 26 because of a “very serious” heart condition, his county announced on Tuesday.
Taylor, who won the last of his seven caps in England’s most recent Test against South Africa at Centurion three months ago, withdrew from Nottinghamshire’s opening and ongoing County Championship match at home to Surrey because of illness.
The Midlands county announced on its website on Tuesday that “specialist scans revealed yesterday (Monday) that the 26-year-old has the very serious heart condition, ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Arrhythmia).”
Taylor, whose condition requires surgery, told his Twitter followers: “Safe to say this has been the toughest week of my life! My world is upside down. But I’m here to stay and I’m battling on! #lifestooshort.”
Born in Nottingham, the diminutive Taylor — the son of a jockey — made his first-class debut for Leicestershire in 2008, with the middle-order batsman making his Test bow against South Africa at Headingley four years later.
Recent months had witnessed some of Taylor’s best international performances.
His seven Tests did not yield a hundred, with his top score of 76 coming against Pakistan in Sharjah in November last year.
Taylor also made 27 one-day international appearances, with his lone century scored against Australia at Old Trafford in September.
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