Brendan Taylor Profile
by CricketArchive
DateLine: 20th February 2007
In a Zimbabwe side short on skill and experience Brendon Taylor lends adequate balance. Among the many players who were thrust into the senior squad following the withdrawal of the rebel cricketers Taylor was only 18 when he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo. A fortnight later he was playing in his maiden Test against the same opponents at Harare and ever since has been the side’s regular wicket keeper in both forms of the game. His work behind the stumps is tidy and efficient and at times he has touched the heights
with an acr batic catch or a lightning quick stumping. Initially he
played as a specialist batsman before taking over keeping duties
following the departure of Tatenda Taibu. In front of the stumps he has
been a dependable batsman as ten fifties from 50 matches at an average
of 30 and a good strike rate of over 65 will confirm. He has also
pulled in his weight in Tests with three half centuries in ten matches
with a highest of 78 against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2004-05 and another
good knock of 77 against New Zealand at Bulawayo the following season.
He began as opening batsman before moving to the middle order where he
has displayed the ability to build an innings. Taylor who made his
first class debut for Mashonaland A at the age of 15 has played in two
under-19 World Cup competitions. An occasional off break bowler when
not keeping wickets he has best figures of three for 54 against
Bangladesh in 2004-05.
