This is your captain speaking . . .

This is your captain speaking . . . PDF Print E-mail

Saturday, 08 September 2012 20:49

Deputy Sports Editor

Brendan Taylor, Zimbabwe’s tal­ismatic top-order batsman and leader, has never been someone one would call a charismatic orator or charmer in front of any large group or camera.

This is a dramatic contrast to his remarkable abilities when he gets into his groove whether behind the stumps, in the field or with bat where he does most of his talking.

However, with the 2012 ICC Twenty20 World Cup beckoning, the shy 28-year-old believes the time has come for the country to reclaim its place among world cricket’s elite.

Zimbabwe are scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka tomorrow, aboard an Emirates flight, and the skipper was oozing confidence as the country prepares for arguably their toughest test at such a tourna­ment.

Zimbabwe has been placed along­side two of the tournament’s favourites to win it all, South Africa, and hosts Sri Lanka.

South Africa are the number one ranked team in the world across all three formats.

Though probably known as one of the biggest chokers of the game on the biggest stage of them all, the Proteas are currently on a high, given their sta­tus in the game and are fresh from humiliating England during the two-nation tour in England.

On the other side, we have the hosts, who would, on top of being guaranteed huge crowds, have some of the biggest names in the game in skip­per Kumar Sangakara, all-rounder Angelo Mathews, big-hitting Tillakaratne Dilshan, and the pace and spin combination of Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis.

However, Taylor is not intimidated by the herculean task ahead, emphasising that his charges should pull through and do their nation proud come September 13.

“We are well aware of the task ahead, but here are the facts: we have beaten both teams in the past and why should this be different?

“Also this format is one if not the most unpredictable of the game so you can rule out form, expe­rience and other issues. It goes down to who per­forms in all three depart­ments — bowling, batting and fielding — best and we, like all the other nations, have put in the work and it’s time to reap the rewards,” he said.

Aiding his cause for a blinder of a tournament is the fact that the team is currently free from any injury worries.

“There are no injuries to report, just a bunch of sore bodies, which is possi­bly due to the work that has been put in,” he said.

The skipper is also fresh from a stint in Sri Lanka during which he took part in a T20 tournament and despite only coming back with a pal­try 13 runs to his name, the lessons the skipper learnt could be the edge Zimbabwe needs to power through the first round.

“I did not have a good tournament by any standards, but I had the chance to size the conditions, pitches and some of the players we will face and have already reported back to both the technical department and team.

“I don’t expect the pitches to change much and so this information should come in handy.”

To the nation, Taylor vowed a good outing and believes the time has come for the “underdog tag to be finally removed from Zimbabwe’s résumé.

“Honestly, I don’t believe coining Zimbabwe underdogs is a fair and justifiable point.

“We have put in the work, gotten some good results in, and this tourna­ment could be the final piece of the puzzle.

“We know we hold the hopes and aspirations of an eager nation and, given we have put in the work, results should start coming, starting with this World Cup,” he said.