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Taylor-made evening – the perfect fit!

The fight for a regular England place became a fight for life itself when James Taylor’s cricket career came to a devastating end at the age of 26.

Ten years ago, Taylor returned from playing a key role in England’s 2-1 Test series win in South Africa and was eagerly awaiting the international summer on home territory when a potentially fatal heart condition was diagnosed and his playing days were suddenly over.

After seven Tests, 27 one-day internationals and 9,306 first-class runs for Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, England Lions and England, he was told he risked possible death if he played cricket, or exercised, ever again. The career of the 5ft 6in star batter and lifelong fitness fanatic was, as reflected in the title of his autobiography, “Cut Short”.

The 36-year-old Taylor was guest speaker of Norfolk Cricket Society at Manor Park on Thursday, March 26th, where he gave a moving account of the day in Cambridge in April 2016 when he thought he was going to die. He talked of his long road to recovery and his return to the sport in a variety of roles at international and county level, and as a writer and commentator.

What proved to be his final innings was a swift dismissal for 10, playing for Notts against Cambridge MCCU at Fenner’s. Then, during warm-ups before the second day’s play, his heart began pounding like a drum and he sought the sanctuary of the dressing room, in agony and in fear.

After a traumatic day and a two-hour journey to his home in Nottingham, Taylor was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre and later City Hospital. At one point, his heart registered 265 beats per minute. What was initially thought to be a virus was a previously undiagnosed genetic heart disease, an arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. His retirement from cricket was announced within days.

Taylor told an appreciative audience he grew up in Leicestershire in a horse-riding family. His father was a jockey, and his sister rode for Great Britain juniors. He went to boarding school aged seven and later, at Shrewsbury School, he excelled in football and rugby before cricket became his career.

He made his first-class debut in 2008, played his first one-day international in 2011, and his first Test against South Africa at Headingley in 2012, in what he regards as one of the greatest England sides. He made 34 in a partnership of 147 with an unappreciative and dismissive Kevin Pietersen, who scored a magnificent 149 but was axed for the final Test at Lord’s after the infamous text messaging saga.

Taylor’s one-day international career included England’s dismal 2015 World Cup campaign, where he was left stranded on 98 not out against Australia when last man James Anderson was controversially run out, and a century against the Aussies at Old Trafford later the same year.

He became an England selector in 2018 and later England head scout, stepping down from the role in 2022 and rejoining Leicestershire in a coaching role.

He answered audience questions on the current England regime, county cricket, The Hundred and the future of Test cricket in a white-ball dominated schedule.

Words by David Cuffley

Photos by Pete Golland

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Richard Whitehead – Victory in Australia

On Thursday 27 November 2025 our speaker was Richard Whitehead, whose topic was the Ashes tour of 1954/55. He has just published a book on this tour, entitled Victory in Australia. The Remarkable Story of England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph 1954-55. He was accompanied by David Woodhouse, the author of Who Only Cricket Know: Hutton’s Men in the West Indies 1953/54. They did not present a formal question-and-answer session but rather a conversation, led by Richard with David chipping in at appropriate times. This format worked extremely well.

The subject was presented in a well-structured fashion. Richard began by discussing the issue of the captaincy, describing how the MCC hierarchy were keen to replace Len Hutton, then England’s skipper but a professional, with David Sheppard, an amateur with impeccable credentials. However, their plan failed to come to fruition and Hutton remained in post. Richard then described how the omission of Fred Trueman from the touring squad was greeted with hostility from some sources and pointed out that the largely forgotten Jim McConnon was selected as an off-spinner ahead of Jim Laker.

Richard then dealt with the Tests in order. He pointed out that Hutton made a very poor decision by going into the first Test with no spinner and putting the Australians into bat: the hosts totalled 601 for eight before declaring and won by an innings and 154 runs. He then described how the quick bowling of Frank Tyson (famously) and Brian Statham, and the batting of the young amateurs, Peter May and Colin Cowdrey, enabled the tourists to turn the series around and win by a margin of three Tests to one. Richard justified his choice of subtitle for his book, providing evidence that this was indeed ‘England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph’.

Hutton came in for more criticism for his handling of Alec Bedser. The latter had been England’s finest bowler since the War and was expecting to play in the second Test. He only learned of his omission when he read the team-sheet posted in the dressing room immediately before the match. Richard justifiably described this as a very poor piece of man-management by Hutton, whose somewhat eccentric behaviour during the tour clearly indicated that he felt under considerable pressure.

Tailoring his presentation to his location, Richard discussed the involvement in the tour of Bill Edrich, a ‘bad boy’ whose fighting, if not his drinking, qualities apparently endeared himself to Hutton.

Richard Whitehead and David Woodhouse

Questions were then taken. It is an indication of the interest generated that these were many in number and detailed in nature. Richard answered these questions in a most knowledgeable fashion, and it was apparent that he had researched this tour in a most exhaustive and praiseworthy fashion. David’s book was a multi-award-winner and, if there’s any justice, Richard’s work will be similarly lauded.

All-in-all this was one of the most memorable evenings that the Norfolk Cricket Society has hosted for many a long year.

Words by Stephen Musk

Photos by Pete Golland

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Victory in Australia – an epic Ashes series retold

Norfolk Cricket Society is looking forward to welcoming Richard Whitehead as our guest speaker on Thursday 27th November. Richard will be joining us to discuss his new book ‘Victory in Australia: The Remarkable Story of England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph 1954‑55’  

PLEASE NOTE, THIS EVENT STARTS AT 7PM

Richard Whitehead

‘Victory in Australia’ is the definitive account of the epic 1954-55 Ashes, a series which marked a watershed moment in the history of English cricket. Under the leadership of Len Hutton, one of the finest group of players to represent England won a series in Australia for the first time in more than 20 years.

It is a feat that has been repeated only four times in more than 70 years since. But Hutton’s men had to overcome the additional obstacle of losing heavily in the first Test – only one England team has managed to win an overseas Ashes series after such a monumental setback.

Praise for Victory in Australia

‘A high peak of post-war English cricket brought to vivid life with so much colourful detail. Richard Whitehead has written a masterpiece.’ – Stephen Chalke, cricket writer.

‘Meticulously researchedby Richard Whitehead, this book brings an epic tour from another age to life. It also serves as a reminder of why we are still so consumed by the Ashes. The portrait of Len Hutton, England’s first professional captain, is riveting.’ – Vic Marks, former England bowler.

 ‘It really is the best cricket book I have ever read’ – Douglas Miller, Association of Cricket Statisticians.

We are also looking forward to welcoming David Woodhouse, author of the award-winning book ‘Who Only Cricket Know: Hutton’s Men in the West Indies 1953/54’ who’ll be in conversation with Richard.

David Woodhouse

The evening will include a Q&A session and the opportunity for book signings, enabling you to engage directly with two authors whose work sets the benchmark for cricket-writing.

Entrance for guests is £7, payable on the door.

Copies of Victory in Australia (RRP £22) will be available to purchase at a special offer price for Norfolk Cricket Society members and guests.