Zimbabwe cricketer, Brendan Taylor, made a successful comeback at the international level after four years in the ongoing second Test of the series between the hosts, Zimbabwe, and the visitors, New Zealand. Taylor served a three-and-a-half-year ban given by the ICC, and the veteran marked his return for the first time since 2021.
Taylor was suspended by the ICC on corruption charges, and the former Zimbabwe captain marked his return in the crucial game for the hosts, who lost the first Test in a one-sided battle. With his long-awaited return, Taylor also broke a massive record.
He is now the earliest Test debutant amongst all the active cricketers. He first played a Test match in 2004 against Sri Lanka, and has served his nation for almost 21 years.
Appearing in his 35th Test, Taylor surpassed England pace legend James Anderson for the longest Test career (in terms of years) among all cricketers who have debuted in the 21st century. Since 1989, only India legend Sachin Tendulkar has recorded a longer Test career than Taylor, having appeared in 200 Test spanning across 24 years and 1 day.
Opening the batting for the first time since 2005, Taylor registered his first runs with a boundary off New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy after the hosts opted to bat first.
