Brendan Taylor – Zimbabwe’s Iron Man in Harare

Really I am upset. I never expected such a shocking performance by the Bangladeshi boys. It was just a bolt from the blue for me as I was not prepared for such sort of back boneless performance from a team which had been decent enough in Sri Lanka with a new attitude in all the three formats, especially the batsmen who showed the courage to face any mammoth tasks. But they just poured water on each and every respect earned in Sri Lanka by exhibiting one of the most horrifying batting displays in Bangladesh’s recent times.

After a productive tour of Sri Lanka, it should have been the Tigers in total command but we were left praising a spirited Zimbabwe. We were left clapping for one man’s sheer determination and class. It was this man who took the responsibility of his team with a brave heart and a tough mind. It was this man who had always been Bangladesh’s thorn in the throat.

I am talking about the blond-haired Zimbabwean captain Brendan Taylor. In this world of cricket, full of glittering stars, there are stars whose brightness remain unnoticed as they don’t have a big media, the appropriate facilities or madness in their country to attract the critics or cricket fans. They shine alongside the modern day wonders of cricket but sadly they always remain hidden and unrecognized.

Many of these stars represent the lower ranked teams. For you, they are never your cricketing discussions. You just don’t even think about them automatically when the discussions about great stars take a place. Kallis, AB de Villiers, Michael Clarke, Graeme Smith, Kumar Sangakkara etc. These names are just your tongue twisters.

What about Brendan Taylor? Well, a pretty boring name, right? Boring indeed! As he’s not an IPL franchise’s hot cake - though below average stuffs of the IPL do get enough importance in your book - he’s not a model of TV commercials, he’s not any of the sponsors’ sunny boys or he doesn’t have any ‘Maasala’ stories with a super model. He’s just not your brand!

But doesn’t this man deserve this? Doesn’t the man deserve your attention?

Yes, this man deserves your attention as well. Taylor deserves more opportunities.

Taylor might not to attract the modern day fans but like a Michael Clarke or Kumar Sangakkara he is blessed with enough X-factors, character and yes, he’s a brave leader. Time and again he did prove his worth with bold performances.

The Zimbabwean openers found it tough in the first morning of the first day of the Harare Test match. They were shown the way for the pavilions early by Rubel and Robiul. The situation was a tricky one and it required a resolute approach rather than a drastic one. And such resolution amalgamated with utmost responsibility must come from the leader.

Brendan Taylor stepped in, remained cool and composed and with immense patience he won the periods of attrition. As scoring runs were difficult, Taylor checked his free-flowing nature and depended on maneuvering the strike - a ploy which the Bangladeshi batsmen failed to display. After a defiant stand with Malcolm Waller, Taylor marshalled the Zimbabwean tail intelligently and chipped in with critical partnerships which dented the Bangladesh’s confidence. A composed knock of 171 was scripted.

In the second innings, Taylor switched gears and was more attacking as the lead grew and for which it had been a hundred with more urgency.  Robiul Islam was blazing all cylinders with the ball which the Zimbabwean batsmen found tough to encounter but Robiul just couldn’t deter Taylor from his mission. He remained not out with another ton and thus he became the first Zimbabwean captain and third batsman from the country to score a hundred in both the innings. Also, he’s the 12^th captain to score twin tons. His match total of 273 runs has been just 8 runs short of Bangladesh team’s match total of 283.  

After a horrible tour of West Indies, Zimbabwe needed a spirited performance to regain their confidence and Taylor’s polished twin tons had been the perfect tonic to gel the Zimbabwean unit. He had been the leader which Zimbabwe needed the most in Harare. He had taught Mushfiq and co how to be responsible. He had been Zimbabwe’s Iron Man in Harare.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar