The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
AT just eight months old, Brendan Taylor’s twins Michael and Sam might be too young to understand but the entire country owes them a huge debt of gratitude. After all it was them — together with their two other siblings — that were the swaying factor in the former Zimbabwe cricket captain’s decision to turn down a contract extension offer at County Cricket outfit Nottinghamshire and return home.
“I was offered a contract extension but it was no longer about me anymore,In an interview at his Harare home last Wednesday.I had a conversation with my son, Mason, who asked me when I was coming back. He told me he missed me and begged me to come back home.It broke my heart, and I think it was at that moment that I finally made the decision to come back. The twins were also born earlier this year, they were growing without me and it hurt,” said Taylor
In the time since his return, roughly 12 days ago, the Taylors have moved into their plush two storey four bedroom house in Borrowdale, a stone throw away from Sam Levy’s shops. The 31-year-old has tried to spend as much time as possible with his family – wife Kelly and their four boys Alexi, Mason and the twins. Kelly is thrilled to have her husband back home.
“It has been a difficult couple of years, the new additions, raising four kids, the highs and the lows and having to face whatever came my way without my husband,” she said. “Sometimes I felt like calling and telling him to come back home but knew that everything he did was to better himself and our family. “I was also fortunate enough to have a solid support structure around me, what with my mother, who we stay with, good friends here and in England.”
Taylor revealed that his heart was always with the Chevrons and described watching Zimbabwe falling 2-3 to Afghanistan earlier this year was heart-wrenching. Taylor watched the game live and his disappointment at the defeat was only worsened by the social media spat he had with former Zimbabwean international Mark Vermeulen. Taylor felt Vermeulen’s criticism of the team was overboard and fought in the Chevrons’ corner.
“I was disappointed to hear people criticize the boys without fully understanding the factors that led to the defeat or the fact that no one will ever be as hard on them as they are on themselves,” he said. Taylor has no apologies for taking on Vermeulen.
“I have no sympathy for him, l stand by everything I said.
“As an ex-player, whose statistics were well below average and the fact that he is bitter with Zimbabwe Cricket, Mark has no leg to stand on, let alone criticize the team.
“Look at his track record, what he did to the academy and the way he has handled himself, the guy has no remorse and acts like the whole world owes him.
“When the team wins or is winning I don’t see him going on Facebook or other social media platforms to congratulate the boys.
‘It is only when the boys lose that he has something to say. I am very passionate about my country and will never let anyone who failed in his days come out and criticize the boys.” Taylor recently signed a four year contract with ZC and looks set to make his return to the field when the West Indies tour later this month.
“I have missed wearing the national shirt and look forward to going out there and do my part for the country,” he said.
