Home
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor is all set to make an international cricketing comeback in the second Test match against New Zealand after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC code of conduct.
Taylor's ban ended on July 25, and he is all set to be named in Zimbabwe's squad for the second Test against New Zealand, which is scheduled to start from August 7.
"He'll obviously be available for the second Test," Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine said of Taylor's return to the side. "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."
ALSO READ: India to hand debut to 26-year-old pacer in fifth Test against England? Report makes massive claim
The 39-year-old Taylor has not featured in any representative cricket since retiring abruptly in September 2021, and the conditions of his ban meant he has not been able to train with any national or domestic squads. However, he used facilities at an elite independent school in Harare. He had told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year that he is fitter than ever before after undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse.
Zimbabwe has already announced its 16-member squad for the upcoming two-Test match series against New Zealand, and it features a relatively strong batting line-up, including a first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Tafadzwa Tsiga, who will start the first Test.
Taylor has played 34 Tests for Zimbabwe between 2004 and 2021, and averages 36.25. He has scored six centuries, including a second-innings 105* in Zimbabwe's comeback Test from a six-year self-imposed hiatus from the format, against Bangladesh in Harare in 2011.
ADVERTISEMENT
