Au Revoir Taylor-Made Chevron!

By Perkins-Tino Bare

It was about ten years ago and the venue was the Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe was chasing down a target set by Bangladesh if I`m not mistaken and we needed 6 runs from 2 balls to wrap-up the match with he himself Brendan Taylor at the crease. First ball came in and it was an extra which saw us needing 5 runs from 1 ball to wrap-up the match. The bowler came in furiously and as calm as a rock Brendan Taylor smashed the ball for a six which then saw us winning the match.

In a day that he described as `definitely a sense of sadness` Brendan Taylor bade farewell to the Zimbabwe National Cricket team as he played his last match calling curtains on a 11 year tenure not much could be said about his departure as we can all imagine the huge gap that is going to be left behind prior to his absence.

Brendan Taylor took up a 3 year contract with English county side Nottinghamshire as a utility player and this then forbids him to turn out for Zimbabwe. After joining the ranks at the tender age of 18 Brendan Taylor played 23 tests and 167 one day internationals. He has had a fairly successful World Cup as he is currently the 2^nd ranked batsman at the World Cup with a total of 433 runs averaging 72.16 all this in spite of the team leaving the tournament with only a win over the UAE to talk about on paper.

Like I said, psychologically the team overcame a lot as for once they went down fighting each and every match which saw them eventually landing with the fans as they were never alone through each and every loss throughout this tourney. The Chevrons outperformed themselves World Cup and though much will be credited to the presence of a World Cup winning Coach DAV Whatmore I think the boys also deserve credit for applying whatever tricks they were taught by the gaffer to use though they were most unlikely to make it to the last of the tournament.

“I guess it`s every cricketer`s dream to put on their country`s shirt so that`s why we play the sport, We`re lucky enough and privileged enough to do that. I`ll certainly miss that I`ll miss my teammates, the camaraderie we have among each other.” Taylor said speaking to Supersport after the match.

Now given that he has about two to three years remaining in his career, he could possibly make it into the English team if the door is open to him and given his current form there is absolutely no reason why he would not make it especially in contrast to the England`s meagre form.

Taylor finished with 138 as probably one of the most inspirational performances at the World Cup came to a sad ending as the lads crashed out in the first round with only a single win to talk about.

India won the toss and sent in Zimbabwe to bat first with the Chevrons managing 287 in 48.5 but this was a below par score which India chased down and eventually winning the match by 6 wickets.

This has been a World cup like no other for a Zimbabwean fan for the performances have been detached from the final result on the paper which was nothing new to an ordinary Zimbabwean fan. But the performances, gosh, the boys were indeed fired up as they truly gave it their all and represented the country well down under as they fought till the very last end and surely do have every reason to feel proud of themselves when they return from what could likely be a tournament which could possibly change our game.