Former England batsman James Taylor has had an operation to fit a defribillator as he continues treatment for the heart condition that dramatically cut short his cricket career. In April, Taylor was forced into retirement at the age of just 26 after being diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
The condition means he can no longer take part in strenuous exercise, and following an initial course of treatment he has been fitted with a ‘life vest’ or external defibrillator – to prevent any recurrence of the problem.
Taylor tweeted a picture of himself in hospital yesterday after surgery. “Well, that was the best sleep ever??” he wrote. “At the bottom of a very steep hill, I can’t wait to see the view from the top!”
Taylor played his seventh and final Test against South Africa at Centurion in January, and was preparing for the new season with Nottinghamshire when he began to feel unwell in the Midlands county’s opening first-class fixture against a Cambridge student team at Fenner’s.

Proteas call up Elgar to replace injured Rossouw in ODI series
Dean Elgar has been called up by South Africa to replace injured batsman Rilee Rossouw for the rest of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series in the West Indies, cricket South Africa said yesterday.
Rossouw dislocated his shoulder in Tuesday’s 47-run victory over Australia at Providence. “Rilee fell awkwardly on his shoulder while fielding the ball on the boundary. He was immediately taken to the local hospital for X-rays which confirmed he had dislocated the AC joint of his right shoulder,” manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement.
“He will be unable to take further part in this series and will return back to South Africa as soon as possible. The extent of the injury and the recovery period will only be known once he has been assessed and managed by one of cricket South Africa’s panel of shoulder specialists.”
Elgar, 28, last played an ODI for South Africa against India in Mumbai in October. He has played six ODIs previously for South Africa.
South Africa and Australia meet again on Saturday in Basseterre in St Kitts & Nevis in the fourth match of the 10-game series.

Former Kiwi batsman Marshall to leave Gloucestershire
Former New Zealand international batsman Hamish Marshall is to end his 11 year spell at English county side Gloucestershire, he said yesterday. The 37-year-old – who appeared for the Black Caps in 13 Tests, 66 One Day Internationals and three Twenty20s – is Gloucestershire’s highest scorer in Twenty20s having accrued 2,537 runs.
Marshall – who along with brother James became the second set of twins to play Test cricket together following the legendary Australian pair Steve and Mark Waugh – also played a pivotal role in Gloucestershire winning the One-Day Cup trophy last year.
“I have so many amazing memories from my time here but the highlight has to be winning the One-Day Cup at Lord’s last year – that is something that will stay with me forever,” said Marshall.
Gloucestershire paid a handsome tribute to Marshall, who hopes to carry on playing cricket back in New Zealand once the county season winds up later this year. “Hamish is a model professional and has been a wonderful role model and ambassador for the club,” said chief executive Will Brown. Marshall’s international career – he had a top score of 160 in Test cricket against Sri Lanka and an ODI career best of 101 against Pakistan – with New Zealand came to an end once he acquired an Irish passport in 2008, which made him a home-qualified player for Gloucestershire.