Shock James Taylor retirement ‘makes you realise cricket is just a game’, says Steven Finn

Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Tom Collomosse15 April 2016

England fast bowler Steven Finn says James Taylor’s sudden retirement from cricket has made his former team-mates realise how lucky they are.

Taylor was forced to quit this week because of a serious heart condition. He played for England 34 times in Tests and one-dayers.

Finn and Taylor were team-mates since they were chosen for England’s Under-19 side and Finn told Standard Sport: “I texted him a couple of times and said, ‘I’m thinking of you mate. I’m so sorry about what’s happened but I’m glad you’re alive, I’m glad you’re still with us’.

“It could happen to anyone. James is a friend. We’re so blasé about playing cricket and taking for granted what we have, so this makes you realise cricket is just a game, without getting too high and mighty. We play a game that people enjoy watching and we’re very lucky to do that.

“I think he was 17 and I was 18 when we played together in the Under-19 World Cup and we’ve played together intermittently since then, for the Lions and the full side. We grew through the ranks together.

“I was told by [Middlesex team-mate] James Franklin in the team hotel and I was shocked, because James is one of the healthiest guys I know. You look at the fitness work he does, how well he looks after himself, what he eats. He is one of the most dedicated professionals and one of the hardest working.”

Finn had the routine screening undertaken by all England players at the ECB’s Loughborough complex last week. He added: “I had my heart screened and I was told it was completely normal. Everyone is tested every year or 18 months at least, so as much as possible is done to pick up these things.

“It’s just incredibly sad that this condition has cut short a promising career but thankfully it was picked it up because things could have been a lot worse.”

Steven Finn was speaking on behalf of Waitrose, proud sponsor of the England cricket teams

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