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