IPL 2018: Zimbabwe cricketers that could have been part of this edition

#2 Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor has been the most consistent and stand-out player for Zimbabwe for over a decade. The right-handed wicket-keeper batsman holds the record for most number of ODI centuries for Zimbabwe.

In the 50-over format of the game, Brendan Taylor has 10 ODI centuries and 34 fifties to his name with a healthy strike-rate of 75 and an average of 35.79.

The classy batsman has single-handedly won many games for his team with the bat. Let us look at two outstanding knocks in his career:

Last ball six of Mashrafe Mortaza

In 2006, Bangladesh toured Zimbabwe for a 5 match ODI series. In the 3rd ODI, batting first Bangladesh put up a fighting total of 237/8 in 50 overs. In reply, Zimbabwe were struggling at 151-7 with 86 to get off 67 balls.

Brendan Taylor along with tail-ender Tawanda Mupariwa stitched together a partnership of 81 runs in 66 balls to bring the target to touching distance. With 5 needing off the last ball, Brendan Taylor smashed a low full toss of Mashrafe Mortaza over the long-on fence for a six, thus pulling off an improbable victory for his team.

A win over Australia in 2007 T20 World cup

This would be regarded as an upset in T20I history. Electing to bat first Australia struggled its way to a mediocre total of 138/9 in 20 overs. Brendan Taylor opened the batting and Zimbabwe had a good start to the innings but kept losing wickets post the power-play. Taylor along with Hamilton Masakadza had a 53-run partnership for the 5th wicket before Masakadza was dismissed in the 19th over.

Still, 16 runs were required off 9 balls. With 4 needing off the last 2 balls, a fuller delivery of Nathan Bracken clipped the pads of Brendan Taylor and raced away to the fine leg boundary. This marked a remarkable victory for Zimbabwe and an upset of sorts. For his 45-ball 60, he was awarded Man of the Match.

Brendan Taylor was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the seventh edition (2014) of Indian Premier League. He was primarily purchased as a substitute for wicket-keeper Naman Ojha. However, the Zimbabwean never got a chance to play. He went unsold in the seasons thereafter.