JOIN USTaylor's move to England a warning for Zimbabwe
Limited international opportunities and growing financial insecurities may have forced Brendan Taylor, one of Zimbabwe’s finest batsmen, to end his international career with the southpaw signing a three-year Kolpak deal with English county side Nottinghamshire
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The arrangement renders Taylor ineligible to play again for his country — who will be playing their last World Cup group game against India here on Saturday — till the contract runs. With Zimbabwe already out of race for the knockouts, this could be Taylor’s last appearance for his national side, a fact that has left him sad but it’s a decision he had to make to take care of his young family.
“It’s been one of the toughest decisions of my career,” Taylor said on Thursday. “I have been very passionate about playing for Zimbabwe, but it’s a decision I have had to make. I can’t give you that answer (whether I would like to settle down there) because it’s the first time I am going there. I just want to go there and play some good competitive cricket and provide for my family. That’s the main thing behind it… I will see how it goes the first year and then take a call,” he offered.
Taylor is the second Zimbabwe player after medium pacer Kyle Jarvis quit international cricket at the age of 24 due to a payment dispute with the country’s board and moved to Lancashire county team. During Taylor’s tenure as captain he played a key role in Zimbabwe players taking a united stand against non-payment of their salaries which eventually led to the formation of players’ union.
“Yes, it was difficult,” he admitted when asked about the turmoil the Zimbabwe cricket went through last year when tours had to be cancelled due to financial crunch. “We weren’t playing a lot of cricket at that time. To try and start a new series fresh and to find some momentum was always difficult. A lot of us aren’t playing a lot of cricket. We are probably doing three tours a year and it can be up to three to four months where we are not doing a hell of a lot apart from the nets and team trainings. It is hard to carry some momentum forward,” rued the 29-year-old rued.
While Zimbabwe didn’t particularly taste success on the road in the last couple of years or so, they pulled off a massive stunner in the defeat of Pakistan in an ODI and a Test match in a home series. “It meant the world to us,” Taylor recalled the experience. “It meant that we couldn't just beat Bangladesh in Test cricket — we could beat better sides. But that was at home, the next challenge will be going away from home and winning away from home.
“There hasn't been any consistency (in performance) due to the lack of cricket. That's just a fact — that's not an excuse in any way. That build-up to Pakistan — we had a lot of cricket leading up to then and players started finding some form, those little things contributed to a Test win and a one-day win against a very strong Pakistani side. There are more fixtures coming for Zimbabwe cricket and that will certainly give us the belief and the confidence to start winning again. Once we do that, winning becomes a habit. I certainly feel we've got the side to do that and under (coach) Dav Whatmore the guys are certainly heading in the right direction,” he remarked.
It’s an irony that while on one side, India complain about their hectic schedule, Zimbabwe are craving for more international cricket. Taylor realises the financial windfall for Zimbabwe Cricket when the Indian team tours but he understands everyone wants a share of that big pie. “We have been lucky enough to play India a few times over the years but every team wants to play India a few times more,” he pointed out. “Their schedules are very hectic and it is tough to get that opportunity. From what I understand, in June there might be three ODIs where India will be coming to Zimbabwe but hopefully that can go forward. That can only do our country a world of good to have India there and test ourselves against the best side in the world. Hope there are more encounters in the future,” he signed off.