Most of us know cricket is all we've got - Taylor

"One more, one more," chanted the Zimbabwe fans at the top tier of the open stands, their tune sprinkled with as much sunshine as the field below them. Brendan Taylor, their captain, was on 99 and they were certain he would be able to bring up his maiden Test century - even if they had to drag him over the line themselves.

For two deliveries they repeated their mantra, changing their tone from encouraging to instructive to demanding, anything for that one run more. Taylor gave them three better. When it came, with a sweep shot that screamed to the backward square leg boundary, Taylor took off down the pitch, arms in the air, eyes wide, smile wider and leap perfectly timed to land in Craig Ervine's outstretched arms. After he had celebrated, he acknowledged the small crowd, who were celebrating louder than they had done two days earlier when Hamilton Masakadza had ended a ten-year wait for a second Test century, or when debutant left-amer Brian Vitori took each of his four wickets.

This hundred was more special, because Taylor was a character that had grown on them, from when he first started playing international cricket as an 18-year-old, at a time when the sport in Zimbabwe was reeling from the player walkout. That was a time when cricket was said to be split along racial lines and 15 white players staged a group protest by abandoning their international careers. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) embarked on an aggressive transformation programme to involve more of the majority population in the game, but the plan was applied prematurely and they were forced to field a team made up of inexperienced, black players after the walkout.

Taylor was the only white player in the squad in his debut Test match, against Sri Lanka in 2004, after refusing to join the rebel players even though they had asked him to. "I took quite a lot of criticism for my decision to stay involved, but I wasn't part of the rebel players and didn't experience what they did. I just wanted to play cricket," Taylor told ESPNCricinfo. "It was the one thing I was sort of good at and took it upon myself to let the world know that I could play a little."

"Sort of" may apply to his fledging Test career, which is only in 11 matches old, but his 118 ODIs and 21 half-centuries speak of his prowess as an international cricketer. Taylor is accomplished in the limited-overs forms of the game and has played major roles in some of Zimbabwe's top performances, such as their one-day victory over Bangladesh when he hit a six to clinch the match off the last ball, and their World Twenty20 upset win against Australia in 2007.

Often, he has been talked about as a rare success story in a failing set-up, but said that he always saw the potential of his peers, even when days were dark. "We had guys with a lot of talent, but they were just inexperienced and obviously that made it tough for us to win games," he said. "But we also had guys who worked extremely hard and were always willing to learn and that made it a nice group of people to be involved with."

Zimbabwe's learning has involved a self-imposed exile from Test cricket and a one-day schedule that as seen them play more games against Bangladesh than the more established nations. At times, it has been frustrating and during the worst years, in 2007 and 2008, Taylor took a break by playing club cricket in Holland and the Lashings World XI, where he played three matches with Sachin Tendulkar. "I just needed to get away and wanted to try my skills elsewhere. Holland was different especially because we played on an astro turf pitch but it was fun," he said. "The ZC had an open policy and welcomed me back."

As the political climate changed in Zimbabwe and the economy began recovering Taylor was not the only one welcomed back. Many of those who walked away were brought back into the fold and the winds of reconciliation blew through Zimbabwe, especially the Harare Sports Club. It was something Taylor expected to happen all along, that the youngsters who were with him that day in 2004, the Elton Chigumburas and Vusi Sibandas, would finally be rewarded for their persistence and the cricket would get better.

"Most of us know that cricket is all we've got and we are looking after it the best way we can," he said. "We know that given our circumstances we may have to work harder than others, but the guys have never been afraid of hard work."

Taylor felt that the return of Alistair Campbell, Heath Streak and Grant Flower has made a significant difference, especially with Flower taking charge of the batting. "I am so grateful to have him [Flower] around, he has a wealth of knowledge and he is a training freak. He does endless throwdowns and is just the ultimate professional. He really helped us get into Test form."

These former players' experience also comes in handy as he embarks on his first series as captain, a task that he took up gleefully when it was offered to him in June. "I had an idea that I would be asked to do it about two months before, and when I was asked I put my hand up and accepted it fully. This is not a job you can do half-heartedly."

The offer came at a time when Zimbabwe cricket had performed below expectations at the World Cup. "I was asked if taking the job would affect my form and I said no. I thrive in difficult situations, so I wanted to do it."

If anything, his first outing as captain has confirmed that. The occasion couldn't have been better, coinciding with Zimbabwe's return to Test cricket and with him leading a group of players that Taylor has known since he first started playing. Being part of this day has almost been like coming full circle, because some of these same players battled through the tough years from 2004 and are on the brink of seeing the results.

"It's good being part of this time because of the guys' willingness to learn, as well as their humbleness," Taylor said. "As their captain, I want to set high standards so that I can get the best out of my players." All Taylor's sentiments imply that playing the game with integrity is as important to him now as it was when he was just a teenager chasing a dream.

Taylor showed immense strength of character when he was a young man in 2004 and chose country over crisis and there were glimpses of that in his innings today. As he did then, he will have to guard against some criticism now, but of a less political nature.

These days, he has to answer questions about his footwork and he handles it with the same maturity. "I have been asked about it and I don't think it's something I need to work on desperately. A lot of players have good hand-eye co-ordination and foot movement is not the be all and end all. I've found something that works for me, and I have improved on it a little."