Brendan Taylor was one cricketer who walked away from international cricket on high. In his own words, it was not for money but for ‘self-improvement’.
At 29 years of age, Zimbabwean former captain Brendan Taylor was probably at the peak of his batting career. He had just scored 433 runs for a Zimbabwe side barely managing to stay afloat in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. He walked away from his ODI career after scoring back-to-back World Cup hundreds – 121 against Ireland and 138 against India – although both results in losses for his team.
Now at 34 years of age, Brendan Taylor is enjoying his second coming after spending two years as a Kolpak player with Nottinghamshire in English county cricket. He is a T20 gun for hire now with stints in Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League and now at the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
In an exclusive interview with DNA, Brendan Taylor gives insight into his second coming, inspiration from MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist and much more.
“I am really giving additional effort to enjoy this second coming of mine. I have not set any real goals for myself but I am making a conscious effort to put my best performances in these remaining years of my active cricketing career,” Taylor told DNA from Hambantota in Sri Lanka, where he is turning out for Kandy Tuskers in LPL.
Although he has a modest average of 35 in both Tests and ODIs, Taylor is averaging over 68 in the handful of ODIs this season. Even in LPL, the Zimbabwean began with a bang, scoring 51 not out and 46 in his first couple of games.
The Dhoni inspiration
Since making his debut back in 2004, Taylor was part of the generation which included the likes of Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni, who gave a whole new facet to the wicketkeeper’s role.
“Dhoni and Gilly (Gilchrist) laid down the template for the next generation. Although my batting was always stronger than my wicketkeeping, but I love to take up the gloves behind the wicket especially in the T20 format. It also helps my batting to get a good perspective of the entire game as well as the condition and state of the pitch,” the 34-year-old said.
Walking away from Zimbabwe cricket was not an easy decision for Taylor, who had represented his nation right from the Under-19 World Cup level. “I didn’t walk away Zimbabwe cricket for any financial gains. In fact, as a Kolpak I was making less money. But I wanted to improve myself as a cricketer. County cricket helped me hone my skills as I was playing cricket day in and day out,” Taylor, who scored 959 runs in his first County season in 2015 at an average of just under 40, said.
Developing the ramp shot
One of the areas he improved was his shot-making, especially in the T20 format. Every batsmen seems to be playing the lap sweep off the pace bowlers but probably the pioneer of that shot was a Zimbabwean in Douglas Marrilier.
“I developed a lot of shots playing county cricket. I have been getting better at hitting the ramp shots off the pace bowlers. When it does come off, it can look really special and spectacular,” he said.
The year 2020 was especially tough on everyone due to the Coronavirus pandemic but Taylor was grateful to be able to spend time with his family.
“We have to look at the amount of time we have lost when we have to stay away from our family. I am grateful to be able to spend some much-needed time with my wife and children. It is a sad time for everyone around the world because of the illness and the near-and-dear ones that we have lost. We were lucky that Zimbabwe were a bit secluded and not hit by a lot of Covid-19 cases,” Taylor felt.
Finally, asked about his stint with the LPL, Taylor said, “I have experience of playing in PSL and even IPL (although I didn’t get a game with Sunrisers Hyderabad) and I can say with certainty that this is a strong league. It is a battle to deal with the conditions and they weather here is really hot but you have to learn to adapt.”