Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
UNDER fire Chevrons head coach, Justin Sammons is banking on returning former captain, Brendan Taylor to make the difference in the second and final test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe are gunning for nothing short of victory in the second and final test against New Zealand to level the series after the visitors humiliated the Chevrons in the first match.
Since Justin Sammons’ appointment as Chevrons head coach last year, Zimbabwe have won just once out of nine tests.
Three of the defeats have been by an innings, while on three other occasions they have lost by more than 300 runs.
Amid waning fortunes, Chevrons head coach, Sammons has turned to former captain, Brendan Taylor for salvation.
“Looking forward to having him back on the side, already, he has added great value in the change room. I think just the discussions that he is having are already starting to make a difference. I am looking forward to seeing him out there in the middle. I think he brings so much to the side,” Summons said.
Taylor was available for selection after a three-and-a-half-year suspension imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code and the ICC Anti-Doping Code.
A veteran of 34 Test matches since making his debut against Sri Lanka in May 2004, Taylor boasts an impressive record that includes six Test centuries and 12 half-centuries.
With 9 938 international runs across formats, he ranks as the country’s third-highest run-scorer, while his 17 international centuries are the most by any Zimbabwean player.
