Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor is gearing up for his return to international cricket after almost four years. He has been named in Zimbabwe’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand, which will begin on August 7 in Bulawayo.Â
Taylor has completed his three-and-a-half-year suspension for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. He last played for Zimbabwe in September 2021.
Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine welcomed his return. "He’ll obviously be available for the second Test. But I also know how hard he’s worked in his individual capacity – especially over the last eight, ten [or] 12 months – in order for this to happen. I’m very excited to have him come back into the space in the next few days, and looking forward to what he has to contribute towards the team and the group."
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Brendan Taylor’s Ban and Road to Redemption
In January 2022, Brendan Taylor was handed a 3.5-year ban after admitting to four charges under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and one under the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The suspension effectively ended his international career at the time as he retired.
However, with his ban now over, Zimbabwe Cricket’s MD Givemore Makoni convinced Taylor to return. Taylor has made it clear that he is determined to play for Zimbabwe again and has set his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia.Â
The veteran batter has scored 9,938 runs in international cricket, including 17 centuries, the most by any Zimbabwean player.
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What Brendan Taylor’s Return Means for Zimbabwe?
Taylor’s experience will be a big boost to Zimbabwe’s batting line-up. He has played 34 Tests between 2004 and 2021, averaging 36.25 with six hundreds.
With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, selectors will be keen to use his experience to guide the younger players in the side.
