'Power of sport' - Taylor hails Zimbabwe's grit after famous Australia win
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Brendan Taylor was prepared to step in despite being ruled out of the ongoing T20 World Cup with a hamstring tear, as Zimbabwe battled through a mounting injury toll during their dramatic win over Australia.
Taylor and left-arm quick Richard Ngarava were both sidelined at the start of the match, leaving Zimbabwe with just 13 fit players. Matters worsened when captain Sikandar Raza (cramps) and premier fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani (back stiffness) were forced off the field.
With resources stretched, Taylor donned his wicketkeeping pads in case he was needed.
“All the twelfthies were out in the field and I just suggested to the coach that if necessary I could keep wicket and Marumani could take the field,” Taylor said the morning after the match. “That’s the reason I was padded up, but fortunately Blessing came back on and Raza tried to shake off his cramp and it was enough.”
Ultimately, Taylor remained in the dugout as Zimbabwe successfully defended 169 to secure a famous victory — their second over Australia in T20 World Cup history. The triumph brought back vivid memories of their first win in 2007, when Taylor was at the crease and the winning runs came off his pad.
This time, he watched as a spectator but described the moment as equally special.
“It was a pretty amazing team performance and a great day to be a Zimbabwean. It’s very special,” Taylor said. “It’s just the power of sport and what it does to the country. It’s almost relatable to the South Africans — when the Springboks or the Proteas win. It’s a very powerful movement.”
Zimbabwe’s unbeaten start — two wins from two — has placed them in a strong position in Group B. However, they still face Ireland and co-hosts Sri Lanka, and must claim at least one more victory to advance to the Super Eight stage.
Taylor will play no further part in the tournament but will remain with the squad in a mentorship capacity before embarking on an intensive conditioning programme. The 40-year-old admitted a recent run of soft-tissue injuries has raised concerns.
“Injuries are very foreign to me. It’s only since my return that I’ve had five tears in the last five or six months in my groin and hamstrings, so clearly there is an underlying issue there and I haven’t had enough time between series,” he said. “I am looking forward to a block period after the World Cup where I can put two months of prehab and hopefully set myself up for a sustainable year ahead.”
Taylor, the oldest member of the Zimbabwe squad and the only player to have featured in the inaugural T20 World Cup, has set his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa as a potential swansong.
Meanwhile, Ngarava is expected to miss at least one of Zimbabwe’s remaining group matches after aggravating a back injury. While not as severe as the issue that forced him off during a Test against England last May, it will limit his participation.
Legspinner Graeme Cremer is nursing a tear in the webbing between his fingers but is likely to be cleared to play, while both Muzarabani and Raza are expected to be fit for the upcoming fixtures.
Zimbabwe have three days to recover before facing Ireland on Tuesday, followed by a quick turnaround for their clash with Sri Lanka on Thursday. Australia, meanwhile, meet Sri Lanka on Monday in what shapes as a pivotal encounter in the tightly contested group.