Follow UsThe near-unthinkable has happened today as nearly four years after being banned by the ICC, Brendan Taylor is back representing Zimbabwe at the age of 39.
One of Zimbabwe’s most decorated batters, Taylor was banned from all cricket for 3.5 years in January 2022 after he accepted four charges under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and, separately, one charge of the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
But nearly four years on, the 39-year-old is back in international colours. And in an emotional interview, Taylor gathered his thoughts and feelings and spoke about what it means to return to cricket, representing Zimbabwe once more.
"Dealing with the sanctions, dealing with my own internal chaos. There was not a specific day, there were multiple days of trauma. It was incredibly difficult,” Taylor said ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, reported ESPNCricinfo.
“There's always that shame and guilt of letting down your family. But the way they supported me I wondered why I didn't lean on them earlier. If I had not made that life changing decision, none of this would have been possible.”
For Taylor, who played any sort of professional cricket back in September 2021, this feels like a debut, in his own words.
“It's an honour to play again. It's a debut-like feeling. Three years ago, I couldn't get out of bed and now I am here doing what I love: representing Zimbabwe,” he said.
With 9,938 runs to his name, Taylor is Zimbabwe’s third-highest run-getter in international cricket. His 17 centuries across formats are the most for any Zimbabwean. He was in fine form in Test cricket before his ban, with his last three scores reading 92, 81 and 49.
He will be hoping to continue the stellar form in the second Test against New Zealand, where he’s slated to bat at No.4.