Zimbabwe has included Brendan Taylor in their squad for the second Test against New Zealand.
Taylor’s three-and-a-half-year ban recently came to an end, and now he’s ready to return from retirement. Zimbabwe has taken a big step by naming the former captain in their squad for the second Test against New Zealand.
Taylor’s ICC suspension for breaching the anti-corruption code ended on July 25, removing any barriers to his comeback. The second and final Test between New Zealand and Zimbabwe is set to begin on August 7 in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe had already announced a 16-man squad for the two-Test series against the Kiwis. The 39-year-old Taylor has now been added specifically for the second Test. Zimbabwe’s current captain Craig Ervine had previously confirmed Taylor’s inclusion.
“He will definitely be available for the second Test,” Ervine said. “I know how much personal effort he has put in to get back, especially over the last 8, 10, or 12 months. I’m really excited to have him back in the squad in the coming days. I’m looking forward to seeing the contribution he will make to the team alongside his teammates.”
Taylor abruptly retired from international cricket in September 2021, and just four months later, his ban was announced.
Initially, Taylor had considered moving into coaching. But Zimbabwe Cricket’s Managing Director, Guilmore Makoni, persuaded him to break his retirement and return to represent the country again. Zimbabwe is keen to have the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
To prepare for his return after such a long time out, Taylor had to stay fit and ready despite restrictions. Due to the terms of his ban, he was unable to play recognized cricket or even train with domestic or international teams. Instead, he trained at a prestigious school in Harare to keep himself in shape.
Taylor’s international career has been prolific. In ODIs, he has scored 6,684 runs at an average of 35.55, the second-highest for Zimbabwe. His 11 ODI centuries are a national record. He also holds Zimbabwe’s record for most international centuries across formats, with 17.
In Tests, he has accumulated 2,320 runs at an average of 36.25, ranking fourth in Zimbabwe’s all-time list. Five of his six Test centuries came against Bangladesh. In T20Is, he has scored 934 runs.
Between 2011 and 2021, Taylor captained Zimbabwe in 71 matches across all formats. His first stint as captain lasted from mid-2011 to mid-2014. After the 2015 World Cup, he stepped away from the national team to sign a three-year Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire in English county cricket but returned to the international fold in 2017.
After retirement and suspension, Taylor’s career is now gaining fresh momentum once again.
