Cap tradition inspires Dion Myers

Don Makanyanga

Sports Reporter

HAVING been handed his senior national team cap by his role model, former Zimbabwe captain Brandon Taylor, Dion Myers has vowed to live up to the challenge, as he embarks on his Chevrons journey.

Myers made his national team debut in the longer version of the game on July 7, 2021.

As part of the national team debutants’ rituals, Taylor did the honours to hand Myers his maiden cap.

Myers is still nostalgic about the moment, which he describes as a special occasion in his career.

“Making my debut was a very special moment and Brandon Taylor is the one who handed me my Test cap and it was such a special day for me, even though it was during the Covid-19 era,” he said.

“I can’t remember the actual words he said, but I remember some of the words that Brandon Taylor gave me about leaving the jersey in a better place and having a long and successful career.

“He is someone I have always looked up to and still look up to, and it was a very special moment and hopefully going forward, I can bring those words into fruition.”

Tasked with keeping the legacy alive, and ready to follow in the footsteps of his role model, the 22-year-old batter admits that Taylor’s big shoes may be too big to fill.

“I do not see it as filling his shoes, because he is one of the best that Zimbabwe has had and you cannot fill in the shoes and the standards he has lived up to,” said Myers.

“I am grateful to be playing at this moment and hopefully by the time I am finished, I can also leave the jersey in a better place and legacy for the team.”

Just like any other sportsperson, Myers acknowledges that playing for the national team was always the ultimate dream.

He has endured a steady rise to the top, which saw him featuring for the national Under-19 team at two World Cups, with his first dance coming in 2018 at the age of 15, before captaining the Young Chevrons two years later.

Playing for the Young Chevrons holds a special place in his heart.

“The experience of playing for the Under-19s was unbelievable. The experience helped me to sort of come to terms with what international cricket would be because you will be playing the best of the best in the world in that age group and that experience is something I will not change for anything,” he said.

Although he made his Chevrons debut in both Test and One-Day Internationals in 2021, it was to be a short-lived experience as Myers took a sabbatical to pursue the academic side.

“I took some time away from cricket between 2021 and 2024 and recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. It was an enjoyable time, a good learning experience for me, away from cricket and away from professional sport.

“It was a well-informed decision. I love cricket and love doing what I am doing currently and there is also life after cricket, so a lot of things were put under consideration,” he said.

Myers returned to the Chevrons fold this year, marking his return in style with an unbeaten 65 runs in a T20 international.