After how many days has Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor returned to international cricket?

Brendan Taylor was recalled into Zimbabwe test side after a number of years.

After completing a three-and-a-half-year ban, veteran Zimbabwean cricketer Brendan Taylor is back in the national squad for the ongoing second and final test match against New Zealand.

In January 2022, Taylor, 39, was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for violating the anti-corruption rule. Taylor was accused of accepting $15,000 from Indian businessmen who urged him to manipulate matches in 2019.

He insisted that he never carried out any match-fixing, even though he admitted to accepting the money. Taylor also had a doping violation after testing positive for the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine.

Brendon Taylor makes his test comeback after 1289 days

Brendon Taylor was included in Zimbabwe XI for the ongoing second test against New Zealand that got underway on August 7, 2025, at Bulawayo. Taylor came into the side in place of opener Ben Curran as one of two changes. The other saw Trevor Gwandu replace fellow pacer Newman Nyamhuri.

With Zimbabwe on a six-match losing streak and batting a particular problem for them, Taylor was installed at top of the order instead of in his usual No. 4 role.

After 1289 days and his first match since 2021, Taylor set multiple longevity records. With his first test match against Sri Lanka in Harare in 2004, Taylor is now the earliest test debutant among active cricket players.

“How good is it that three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed, and now I am here doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe? Dealing with the sanction, dealing with my own internal chaos—there was not a specific day; there were multiple days of trauma.

I was in the dark depths of the abyss and trying to just get through this total and incomprehensible demoralization of life. It was incredibly difficult,” Taylor told broadcasters in an emotional interview.

Due to the terms of his penalty, Taylor was unable to participate in any official cricketing structures. He then established a coaching facility in his house to transition into coaching upon his return.

Zimbabwe’s Cricket MD Givemore Makoni persuaded Taylor to resume playing with the 2027 World Cup in mind, and after years of self-reflection, he is now prepared to give it his all.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.