Brendon Taylor’s sticky wicket

FORMER Zimbabwe cricket skipper Brendon Taylor finds himself on a sticky wicket.

With just over a month left in the 2017 County season, and by extension his contract, the 31-year-old wicket-batsmen has an important decision to make.

Taylor has to decide between exchanging his stay at Nottinghamshire or pack his bags and return home.

The County club and Zimbabwe Cricket are interested in the batsman’s services but negotiations are not moving as fast as Taylor would like.

“With regards to my situation, I am currently in the dark right now to be frankly honest with you,” said Taylor in an interview from his UK base. “Yes, I have had preliminary talks with Zimbabwe Cricket regarding a possible return but nothing really has come into fruition yet.

“Notts have also expressed their desire to retain me for a few more years, but like the ZC situation nothing has been signed as yet. One of the two will definitely will transpire but at the moment I do not know which one. At the moment, I am just trying to weigh my options,” he said.

The decision will likely give the former Midwest Rhinos player sleepless nights over coming weeks.

On one hand are the financial benefits, exposure and experience that come with plying his trade in County cricket. On the flip side is allure of international cricket and a chance to spend time with the family.

“When I left in 2015, I never really ruled out ever returning to Zimbabwe Cricket again. The way I looked at it was like this; if I left at 28 or 29-years-old, I could still return to international cricket at 30-31 and still have plenty gas left in the tank,” said Taylor.

“Every player in the world dreams of playing international cricket, for their country, that is still very much desire. I also miss my family.

“They have been very supportive; my wife and kids have been a rock and my mum and dad often make trips here to come and watch me play.

“My kids are growing very quickly now, and I have missed a very special time in their lives (growing up) and it has been hard.”

Taylor joined Nottinghamshire upon the completion of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, in India, where upon he immediately made a huge impact when he joined the Trent Bridge based outfit.

Taylor became a Nottinghamshire record holder within the first couple of weeks of his arrival, scoring 105 against the students of Loughborough University and 106 against Middlesex which made him the first Nottinghamshire batsman in history to register tons in both of his first two matches.

Having rattled off big scores all around the globe, during which he played 23 Tests and 167 ODIs for Zimbabwe, the 31-year-old went on to pass 1,000 runs at an average of 35 within his first year at the club.

Unfortunately, a drop down the batting order, from his preferred opening slot, has since seen that majestic form, from the first year, cow down this year.

After nine one-day matches, Taylor has only managed to score 376 runs with an average 53,71.

Game time has been scarce in the Twenty20 and First Class arena, with the 31-year-old playing only three and two matches scoring 100 and 67 runs respectively.