Australian paceman Peter Siddle has thrown his support behind former county teammate James Taylor, after the English Test batsman was forced to retire from cricket with a serious heart condition.
Siddle played alongside Taylor at Nottinghamshire in 2014, where a successful campaign helped catapult him back into the English Test team the following year.
However the 26-year-old's career was cut short on Tuesday after he was diagnosed with condition similar to that of former soccer player Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed during an FA Cup game in 2012.
And his upset former teammate was one of the first to offer his condolences on Twitter.
"So sad to hear about my little mate @jamestaylor20, stay strong braz! Top player but most of all an even better bloke. X," Siddle tweeted
Taylor didn't play an Ashes match in his seven-Test career, however he saved his best for Australia in the ODI arena.
He hit his only international century against Australia last September in Manchester, and controversially missed out on triple figures by two runs on the opening day of last year's World Cup - when No.11 James Anderson was incorrectly ruled run out against the Aussies during an overturned LBW appeal.
"So sad about @jamestaylor20 , great little player with the world at his feet. Speedy recovery from all of us in Australia," Australian coach Darren Lehmann tweeted.
Former and current Australian captains Michael Clarke and Steve Smith also posted their support.
"Really feel for @jamestaylor20 Absolutely devastated for you," Clarke tweeted.
"Sad to hear the news about @jamestaylor20 wishing a speedy recovery," Smith added.
Meanwhile, former Australian allrounder Tom Moody and rising batsman Usman Khawaja both wrote of the Englishman's potential when they took to Twitter.
"Very sad news about @jamestaylor20 forced retirement. A talented, gutsy cricketer, wishing him all the best in the future," Moody wrote.
Khawaja added: "Genuinely saddened to hear the news about @jamestaylor20. A quality little batsman, and an annoyingly sneaky short leg. Goodluck brother."
David Warner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Gillespie and Trent Copeland also voiced their support, while Taylor used the social media platform to portray his courage.
"Safe to say this has been the toughest week of my life!" Taylor posted.
"My world is upside down. But I'm here to stay and I'm battling on!"
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