LONDON: England batsman James Taylor has been forced to retire from cricket at the age of 26 due to a serious heart condition, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday.

Taylor, who plays for Nottinghamshire, withdrew from last week’s game against Cambridge MCCU with what was believed to be a viral infection. He was then forced out of his team’s first County Championship match at home to Surrey.

However, scans revealed he has a serious heart condition known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Arrhythmia (ARVC).

“Safe to say this has been the toughest week of my life! My world is upside down. But I’m here to stay and I’m battling on!” Taylor said on his Twitter account.

The middle order batsman played seven Tests — the most recent Test against South Africa at Centurion three months ago — and 27 One-day Internationals for England and captained the side against Ireland in May last year.

“It is both shocking and saddening to hear that James’ career has been cut short in such a sudden and unexpected manner,” England team director Andrew Strauss said in a statement released by the ECB.

“Throughout his career, he has constantly impressed with his determination to make the absolute most of his ability, and it is immensely cruel that such a hard working player will be unable to fulfil his great potential in the international arena.

“The ECB will work closely with Nottinghamshire and together we will do everything possible to help James through this difficult period, and aid him in his recovery.”

Taylor’s diagnosis is similar to that of former Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba, whose career was cut short after he collapsed on the pitch in 2012.

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell said no one at Trent Bridge had any idea about the severity of Taylor’s condition.

“Myself and all of James’ team-mates and colleagues are terribly sad to hear this news, which comes as a big shock to us all,” Newell said. “He is a model professional, the most hard-working I’ve ever known in cricket.”

Born in Nottingham, the Taylor made his first-class debut for Leicestershire in 2008, with the middle-order batsman making his Test bow against South Africa at Headingley four years later.

But after those first two caps in 2012, he had to wait more than three years for another Test appearance.

Recent months had witnessed some of Taylor’s best international performances, including impressive displays as a close-in fielder.

Although he averaged a modest 26, did not yield a Test hundred, with his top score of 76 coming against Pakistan in Sharjah in November last year.

Taylor averaged a healthy 42.23, with his lone century scored against Australia at Old Trafford in September.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2016