The 26-year-old fell ill during Nottinghamshire's pre-season match against Cambridge MCCU last week and has been diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

The England batsman will undergo an operation this week and has retired from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.

It comes less than four months after Taylor played all four Test matches as Alastair Cook's side swooped to a 2-1 victory in South Africa - their first win against the Proteas on their own turf in more than a decade.

The diminutive batsman took two stunning catches at short leg to dismiss first Hashim Amla and then Dane Vilas in the decisive third Test at Johannesburg as England sealed the series victory.

"One minute you're on an international tour taking a catch that [helps win] a series, running around with Stuart Broad high-fiving everyone, and suddenly you're retired," said Nick Compton, who featured alongside Taylor in all four Tests. "It puts things into perspective hugely."