Brendon taylor interview

[jimbo]

I think all the forum users will find this very interesting as did I.


Keen, but out of Africa
sportCricket12 Nov 08 @ 12:26pm by Greg Gliddon

WRONG UNS: Brendan Taylor says the right people are needed to run cricket in Zimbabwe. ANGIE BASDEKIS S20ME970
ALL Brendan Taylor wants to do is play cricket for his country.

Despite having played 10 Test matches and 75 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, memorably leading his side to victory with an unbeaten 61 against Australia in the Twenty20 Wold Cup, Taylor, just 22, is retired from international cricket after refusing to sign a new contract with Zimbabwe Cricket.

Free of obligation to a cricketing nation which has lost its champion players due to political unrest, Taylor finds himself at North Melbourne in Victoria’s Premier competition.

But he still hopes one day to represent his country.

“There’s too many of the wrong people running cricket in Zimbabwe ... it’s very frustrating because for the last four years there has been no development at all.

“There’s no first-class or league structure. We’ve got a very talented, up-and-coming side, but it will take at least five years before there’s any improvement, because there is no development taking place.

“I guess I’m in a fortunate situation in that I am still young and there isn’t a lot to choose from at the moment, so if we do get back, hopefully I get an opportunity again.”

After gaining an associate membership of the International Cricket Council in 1981, Zimbabwe was granted full Test-playing membership in 1992.

Competitive in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Zimbabwean cricket unravelled in 2003 when England forfeited a World Cup match fixtured in that country, citing security concerns.

Zimbabwe players Andy Flower and Henry Olonga later wore black armbands mourning the death of Zimbabwean cricket and both were thrown off the team indefinitely.

In 2004, Heath Streak was sacked by ZC, prompting a walk-out of 14 senior players.

While he was reinstated the next year, the unstable political climate and rigid selection policies destroyed Zimbabwe’s team fabric, culminating in a disastrous result against New Zealand at home which saw the side bowled out twice in one day.

In January 2006, the Sport and Recreation Committee - a division of the Zimbabwean government - took over the running of the country’s cricket, resulting in the firing of all white and Asian members of the board of directors.

Zimbabwe then suspended itself from international Test cricket.

Several Zimbabwean cricketers, like Taylor, have retired prematurely to explore other options around the world.

“Zimbabwe Cricket is quite lenient in allowing players to travel to England, but we aren’t able to sign a contract if we want to play in Australia,” he said.

Taylor says he often worries about his family back in Zimbabwe.

“It’s nice to be in the first world,” he said.

“But there’s always the fear about what could happen to my family back home.

“We’re all pretty resourceful and things should be all right, but it is always there in the back of your mind.”

Debuting last weekend with the Kangaroos, Taylor scored an impressive 61.

“I was really impressed with the standard, it was what I expected it to be,” he said.

“The pitch played very fairly and actually I played a pretty stupid shot to get out. I’m really looking forward to the season.”
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[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Good to read he echoes the sentiments of returning back.

[jimbo]

The way that bvute and chingoka have staved off attempts to be overthrown in recent years I woudnt count on the Current board going anywhere too soon in the future. They are firmly entrenched at the top unfortunately