Players donate £25,000 to Taylor heart appeal

A group of England cricketers have contributed £25,000 towards a fundraising effort for the British Heart Foundation, in support of their former team-mate, James Taylor.

The 24 players, including the current Test captain, Alastair Cook, donated to a fund organised by Taylor's partner Josephine Naylor and her siblings, Campbell and Libby, who will be running the Robin Hood marathon in Nottingham on Sunday.

"Whilst James would have waltzed around a marathon course, we are not blessed with such endurance capabilities, so this really is a challenge!" wrote Libby Naylor on her fundraising page.

Taylor was forced to retire from all cricket earlier this season, at the age of 26, after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

Responding to the donation, Taylor wrote on Twitter: ""What an amazing gesture from some of the best guys and team mates you could wish for @englandcricket! Thank you."

The fund's initial target was £3,000.