Brendan Taylor is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, batsman, wicket-keeper and even captain, who announced his retirement early in life but is now all set to make his comeback to the national team. He was their captain during the 2015 World Cup, where he announced his retirement from international cricket.
The announcement was a shocking one not just for Zimbabwe cricket fans, but also for global fans of the sport, as he was an intelligent cricketer, who helped take Zimbabwe to many highs when he was around. In 2011, he became the first player from his country to score back to back ODI centuries, achieving the feat against New Zealand.
Not many will forget that he repeated the same feat in the 2015 World Cup, having scored consecutive ODI centuries again, including a 138(110) balls in a group stage game against India, which also turned out to be his last ever ODI for his country.
He was a fighter and a great cricketer so it hurt many cricket fans when he decided to hang up his boots, at the age of 29, an age at which some athletes begin their careers. At first, he cited family reasons and wanting to spend more time at home, but later he revealed that he was paid around 250 AUD for his World Cup efforts, which is peanuts!
Taylor continued to play county cricket, where he was extremely valuable to his club Nottinghamshire, under the Kolpak Rule, which would let him play county cricket in England but makes him ineligible to play for Zimbabwe. However, Taylor said it tore him apart when he recently decided to leave his club to play for Zimbabwe again.
Whether it was family reasons, or financial reasons that drove him away from the international game, we don’t know. However, we at Read Scoops are here to tell you something that we do know: Brendan Taylor is back for Zimbabwe, and is a part of the squad that will play 2 tests against West Indies in Bulawayo.
Along with Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis is also set to make a return to the test squad, after a county stint. The return of these experienced players will boost the team, and playing a test series at home makes me think they have a good chance of getting positive results, especially after their recent success in Sri Lanka.
The 2-match test series will take place between 21st October and 2nd November 2017, and both squads have been announced.
West Indies Test Squad:
Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Kyle Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.
Zimbabwe Test Squad:
Graeme Cremer (c), Regis Chakabva, Michael Chinouya, Chamu Chibhabha, Tendai Chisoro, Craig Ervine, Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor, Kyle Jarvis, Hamilton Masakadza, Nyasha Mayavo, Solomon Mire, Chris Mpofu, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams.
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