Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE head coach Justin Sammons says he’s eager to see Brendan Taylor back in international cricket, with the former Chevrons captain set to return this week in the second Test against New Zealand.
Taylor, whose three-and-a-half-year ban ended on July 26, was added to the squad for the two-match series but missed the first Test. He’s now available for the second, starting Thursday at Queens Sports Club.
Sammons said Taylor’s presence has already made a noticeable impact.
“It’s positive, I am looking forward to having him back in the side. Already he has added great value in the change room. You can see the way he leans on every word he says, the discussion he is having with the batters, he is already starting to make a difference. Even in training, you could really see everyone has upped their game a little bit with his presence there.
“We have already seen the difference in the side, it may not have shown in the Test necessarily in terms of batting results but you can see the inquisitiveness around trying to get as much information from him as possible. We are looking forward to seeing him out there in the middle and he brings so much to the side, we look forward to it,” said Sammons.
Taylor marked his return to competitive cricket on Sunday with a half-century for National Premier League (NPL) defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1, playing against Queens Sports Club at Kwekwe Sports Club.
The 39-year-old scored 61 off 66 balls, including six fours and a six, helping Takashinga post 236/6 in their 45 overs. It was his first competitive match since his suspension ended.
His innings supported a century from Innocent Kaia, while another former Zimbabwe captain, Graeme Cremer, also made his NPL debut for Takashinga in the same match. Cremer, who paused his career in 2018, starred with the ball, taking 4/43 in eight overs as Takashinga bowled out Queens for just 112 in 23.4 overs.
Cremer is also in contention for an international comeback, as Zimbabwe gears up to co-host the 2027 Cricket World Cup with Namibia and South Africa.
