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Cricketers on their milestones

Brendan Taylor

Happy in Harare

First hundreds of different kinds, and more

Interview by Faraz Sarwat

June 10, 2012

Comments: 6 | Text size: A | A

Brendan Taylor is ecstatic after scoring a ton on his debut as captain, Bangladesh v Zimbabwe, only Test, Harare, 4th day, August 7, 2011
A hundred on captaincy debut, in a win: Taylor celebrates against Bangladesh in Harare in 2011 © Associated Press
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Players/Officials: Brendan Taylor
Teams: Zimbabwe

First Test hundred
It was exceptionally special as it came in a win. It was against Bangladesh last year. The match was extremely satisfying. We worked so hard to get to where we were and we stuck together and it paid off in the end. It was an awesome feeling, but there's still a way to climb and a lot to learn.

First cricketing hero
Andy Flower. He's just the best player to ever play for Zimbabwe.

First win in a Twenty20 international
It was against Australia, in Cape Town. It didn't really sink in. Vusi Sibanda, my opening partner, got off to a flier and took the pressure off me. We weren't chasing a big total, just 139, so it only required me to bat through the innings.

First trip outside Africa to play cricket
To England for the Under-15 World Cup in 2000. I remember, it was played at top private schools. It was very nerve-racking to be playing against cricketers who had developed so much quicker than us. That was challenging but a big stepping stone for my career.

First international hundred in a winning cause
The match in which I got my second ODI hundred. It was against Sri Lanka, and we got over the line by eight wickets. Unfortunately a couple of my hundreds have been in games we lost, so this one sticks out. It's certainly a lot more special when you contribute to winning the game.

Faraz Sarwat is the cricket columnist for the Toronto Star and the author of The Cricket World Cup: History, Highlights, Facts and Figures

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Posted by Bruisers on (June 11, 2012, 16:44 GMT)

@tatactg - Maybe you must look this amazing stat- Taylor in his last 11 ODI innings has scored 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries.. 2 of the centuries have come against NZ. 2 half-centuries vs Pakistan and 3 half-centuries vs NZ. Rest of the innings against Bangladesh. All innings have come in different conditions. Whereas Shakib hasn't stepped out of the sub-continent+Zimbabwe for over two years now. Taylor is a class-act and would fit into any Test team in the world whereas Shakib can't.

Posted by tatactg on (June 11, 2012, 5:05 GMT)

As a batsman alone he is much less than Shakib al Hasan.

Posted by Bruisers on (June 10, 2012, 9:59 GMT)

He is a joy to watch. Easily the best batsman in all formats for Zimbabwe and Bangladesh put together.

Posted by Praxis on (June 10, 2012, 9:50 GMT)

Good player, great attitude!

Posted by   on (June 10, 2012, 9:16 GMT)

Really a wonderful cricketer and its great that he has not moved to england or other countries to play cricket. I really hope that things work out some day in Zimbabwe and these guys get their share of fame. All the best

Posted by   on (June 10, 2012, 7:45 GMT)

He is the future of Zimbabwean cricket

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