James Taylor

James Taylor was born on January 6, 1990, in Nottingham. He began his professional cricket career with Leicestershire, making his debut in April 2008 against Worcestershire. Throughout his eight-year playing career, Taylor accumulated over 16,000 professional runs and scored 35 centuries across various formats. His contributions to the sport included a significant 147-run partnership with Kevin Pietersen early in his career and lifting the T20 Blast trophy with the Foxes in 2011. He represented England in 34 international appearances, highlighted by an ODI century against Australia in 2015. His playing career was curtailed due to a serious heart condition diagnosis in April 2016.

Following the conclusion of his playing career, Taylor remained involved in cricket. He became a full-time England selector in 2018, demonstrating his continued commitment and expertise in the sport. In a notable career progression, Taylor returned to Leicestershire in the winter of 2022. In this new role, he serves as the Assistant to Head Coach Alfonso Thomas and holds the position of Lead Batting Coach. His first campaign back saw immediate success, with the Foxes winning the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

Taylor’s coaching and selectorial roles highlight his dedication to sharing his extensive experience at the top level of cricket. He continues to impact the sport, now focusing on developing new talent and contributing to team strategy. Beyond cricket, Taylor is also noted as a scratch golfer and maintains an active interest in the sport, participating in events like the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship.