Chris Stocks talks to former England batsman James Taylor on the anniversary of his forced retirement from cricket
This week marks a year since James Taylor was given the devastating news that he would have to retire from cricket at the age of 26 after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition.
In the 12 months since, the former England and Nottinghamshire batsman has carried himself remarkably well for a man whose life has been turned upside down.
Being cut down in the prime of his cricketing career – Taylor had just started to establish himself in England’s Test team – was not easy to come to terms with.
Yet the positive manner in which he has dealt with his situation has been inspirational.
That’s why the cricket charity Chance to Shine are using Taylor as an ambassador to tell schoolchildren his story in the hope he can help them deal with whatever life throws at them.
The simple fact for Taylor, though, is that he’s just glad to still be here after his condition – Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) – left him fighting for his life last April.
Taken ill during pre-season with Nottinghamshire, he was to later discover his heart was beating at 265 beats per minute for five hours – the equivalent of running six marathons.
Doctors were not only amazed he had managed to walk into the hospital to be treated but that he had survived a stress on the heart that would have killed most people.
“Once the doctor told me the majority of these cases are found in post-mortems that made a big difference to my outlook,” he said. “It’s a massive blow not being able to play professional cricket again but at least I’m still here to tell the tale. Having life itself is a good option.
“It’s been a physically painful year and an emotional one – an absolute rollercoaster and pretty scary to be honest. But I’ve also enjoyed it. I’ve learned so much, met some amazing people, and done some amazing things that I probably wouldn’t have done before.
“The things I’ve done, I’ve enjoyed 99 per cent of them, which most people in a year can’t say.”
Among the things that Taylor, who played the last of his seven Tests against South Africa at Centurion in January 2016, has excelled at has been coaching and a new career in the media.
As well as working for the BBC’s Test Match Special and Sky, he has written a column for the London Evening Standard. And, after cutting his coaching teeth at Trent Bridge, he recently landed a job as a batting consultant at Northamptonshire for the county’s upcoming Royal London Cup campaign.
Taylor, whose List A average stands at 53.11, says: “I’m coaching with Nottinghamshire at the academy and a bit of second team stuff but this is my first official first-team role. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’m desperate to have an impact at first-class level and as high as I can go. It’s something I think will work well and I enjoy doing. I get on well with the lads but, most importantly, I can have an impact and make a difference.
“Along with my charity work, I want to marry the media and coaching side of things together – that’d be perfect.”
Some former players miss the game so much they find it hard to watch cricket.
Taylor, though, says: “You know what? It wasn’t actually that hard. It was at first but it’s a game I love and I can watch it as a fan. It’s fine now; I love watching it.”
Taylor will be watching his former England team-mates first-hand during this summer’s Champions Trophy as he is working for TMS during the tournament.
And he believes a resurgent one-day side under captain Eoin Morgan – a process in which he was involved when it began two years ago – can take advantage of home conditions to finally land England’s first major global 50-over title.
“They are right up there,” he says. “I’d say Australia, India and England are the three. But England are the team to beat. It’s just about peaking at the right time in the competition. England have such a good squad, it’s just about finding confidence and momentum at the right time.”
Taylor, who will get married later this summer to fiancée Josephine Naylor, is also excited about working with Chance to Shine. “It’s brilliant,” he says. “We’re talking about setbacks and resilience. It will be nice to put a positive spin on everything I’ve gone through and help the kids deal with and learn about setbacks and remain as positive as they can.” Just like Taylor.
James Taylor is an ambassador for Chance to Shine. Donations to the children’s cricket charity will be matched pound for pound this summer by long term Chance to Shine patron Adrian Beecroft. Donate at chancetoshine.org/donate
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper, April 14 2017
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