Zimbabwe has added batter Brendan Taylor to their squad for the second Test against New Zealand, scheduled from August 7-11 in Bulawayo. This inclusion comes after Taylor completed a three-and-a-half-year suspension for breaching the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Anti-Doping codes.
Taylor, 39, was banned in 2022 following his admission of receiving $15,000 from an Indian businessman in 2019. He had previously announced his retirement from international cricket in September 2021.
He confessed to using cocaine while in India and claimed this was subsequently used to blackmail him into spot-fixing, though he maintained he never went through with any fixes.
“I certainly did think it was all done, but here I am – and it’s an overwhelming feeling of gratitude,” Taylor stated in a media release from Zimbabwe Cricket on Wednesday.
“I have to pinch myself a little to realize that I’m actually here. I’ve been soaking it all up and embracing every moment.”
“The last year and a half has certainly been dedicated to my return. I’ve put in an immense amount of work – from fitness to the technical side to diet – and I’m feeling a lot leaner, fitter, and mentally stronger. That’s only been possible through sobriety. I feel in a wonderful space.”
Taylor has participated in 34 Test matches since his debut against Sri Lanka in 2004, accumulating six centuries and 12 half-centuries.
With 9,938 international runs across all formats, he stands as Zimbabwe’s third-highest run-scorer in international cricket.
Zimbabwe’s first Test in the two-game series against New Zealand commenced in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
