Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor to retire from international cricket

The 35-year-old has made 283 appearances for Zimbabwe in all formats since making his debut in 2004

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor has announced his retirement from international cricket, with his final appearance coming against Ireland on September 13.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who made his debut in 2004, has made 283 appearances in all formats, playing 34 Tests, 204 ODIs and 45 T20Is.

Taylor is currently second in Zimbabwe’s ODI run-scoring charts, 109 runs behind Andy Flower, and could overtake his countryman with a century at Stormont. He is already his country’s leading century-maker in the format, with 11 to his name.

He is also Zimbabwe’s fourth-highest run-scorer in red-ball cricket, with 2,320 runs at an average of 36.25, and lies third in the T20I standings, with 934.

Forever grateful for the journey. Thank you 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tOsYzoE5eH

— Brendan Taylor (@BrendanTaylor86) September 12, 2021

Taylor, Zimbabwe’s leading run-scorer at the 2015 World Cup, captained his country between 2011 and 2014.  

Announcing his retirement on Twitter, Taylor said: "It's with a heavy heart that I'm announcing that tomorrow is my last game for my beloved country. 17 years of extreme highs and extreme lows and I wouldn't change it for the world.

"It's taught me to humble, to always remind myself how lucky I was to be in the position I was in for so long. To wear the badge with pride and leave everything on the field.

"My goal was to always leave the team in better position as to when I first arrived back in 2004. I hope I have done that."