Veteran wicketkeeper batter Brendan Taylor made a comeback to Zimbabwe’s Test team during the second Test against New Zealand, following a four-year absence due to an ICC ban. Taylor etched his name into the record books for longevity, with his first international match for Zimbabwe since 2021.
Brendan Taylor returned to Zimbabwe’s Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban imposed by the ICC for breaching anti-corruption and anti-doping rules. He had accepted money and gifts from a businessman and failed to report the approach in time during a trip to India in 2019.
Taylor last played for Zimbabwe in September 2021, with his final Test appearance coming against Bangladesh in July 2021. Following the completion of his ban, he became available for selection for Zimbabwe, who currently trail the ongoing series against New Zealand 1-0.
Brendan Taylor Becomes Longest-Serving Active Test Cricketer
Brendan Taylor has become the longest-serving active Test cricketer. He also surpassed England pacer James Anderson in terms of career span.
The Zimbabwe batter made his debut against Sri Lanka in Harare and is now playing the 35th Test of his career. Among cricketers since 1989, only Sachin Tendulkar has had a longer Test career, playing for over 24 years.
“He (Brendan Taylor) has brought a lot of calmness, he was with the guys in the first Test as well and has been brilliant around the change room,” Ervine said at the toss.
Longest Test careers:
| Player | Team | From | To | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilfred Rhodes | England | June 1, 1899 | April 12, 1930 | 30 years 315 days |
| Brian Close | England | July 23, 1949 | July 13, 1976 | 26 years 356 days |
| Frank Woolley | England | August 9, 1909 | August 22, 1934 | 25 years 13 days |
| George Headley | West Indies | January 11, 1930 | January 21, 1954 | 24 years 10 days |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | November 15, 1989 | November 16, 2013 | 24 years 1 day |
| John Traicos | South Africa/Zimbabwe | February 5, 1970 | March 17, 1993 | 23 years 40 days |
| Jack Hobbs | England | January 1, 1908 | August 22, 1930 | 22 years 233 days |
| George Gunn | England | December 13, 1907 | April 12, 1930 | 22 years 120 days |
| Syd Gregory | Australia | July 21, 1890 | August 22, 1912 | 22 years 32 days |
| Freddie Brown | England | July 29, 1931 | June 30, 1953 | 21 years 336 days |
| Dave Nourse | South Africa | October 11, 1902 | August 19, 1924 | 21 years 313 days |
| Brendan Taylor | Zimbabwe | May 6, 2004 | August 7, 2025 | 21 years 93 days |
| James Anderson | England | May 22, 2003 | July 12, 2024 | 21 years 51 days |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | March 17, 1994 | May 3, 2015 | 21 years 47 days |
Brendan Taylor on the Verge of Joining an Elite Group in Zimbabwean Cricket
Brendan Taylor is on the verge of joining an elite group in Zimbabwean cricket. He needs just 62 runs to reach the 10,000-run milestone in international cricket. Taylor has scored 9,938 runs from 284 matches, including 2,320 in Tests, 6,684 in ODIs, and 934 in T20Is, with 17 centuries and 57 fifties.
Taylor could become only the third Zimbabwe player to surpass 10,000 runs. Andy Flower (11,580 runs) and Grant Flower (10,028) are the only players to achieve that. He is fourth among Zimbabwean batters in Test cricket, behind Andy Flower, who leads with 4,794 runs at an average of 51.54.
Also read: Watch: MS Dhoni reveals Virat Kohli’s hidden talents off the field; Video breaks internet
