Brendan Taylor destroys James Anderson’s all-time record in comeback Test against New Zealand

Published - 07 Aug 2025, 03:58 PM | Updated - 07 Aug 2025, 11:42 PM

Brendan Taylor (Image Credits: X)

Veteran wicketkeeper batter Brendan Taylor made a comeback to Zimbabwe's Test team during the second Test against New Zealand, following a four-year absence due to an ICC ban. Taylor etched his name into the record books for longevity, with his first international match for Zimbabwe since 2021.

Brendan Taylor returned to Zimbabwe's Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban imposed by the ICC for breaching anti-corruption and anti-doping rules. He had accepted money and gifts from a businessman and failed to report the approach in time during a trip to India in 2019.

Taylor last played for Zimbabwe in September 2021, with his final Test appearance coming against Bangladesh in July 2021. Following the completion of his ban, he became available for selection for Zimbabwe, who currently trail the ongoing series against New Zealand 1-0.

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Brendan Taylor Becomes Longest-Serving Active Test Cricketer

Brendan Taylor has become the longest-serving active Test cricketer. He also surpassed England pacer James Anderson in terms of career span.

The Zimbabwe batter made his debut against Sri Lanka in Harare and is now playing the 35th Test of his career. Among cricketers since 1989, only Sachin Tendulkar has had a longer Test career, playing for over 24 years.

"He (Brendan Taylor) has brought a lot of calmness, he was with the guys in the first Test as well and has been brilliant around the change room," Ervine said at the toss.

Longest Test careers:

Player	Team	From	To	Span
Wilfred Rhodes	England	June 1, 1899	April 12, 1930	30 years 315 days
Brian Close	England	July 23, 1949	July 13, 1976	26 years 356 days
Frank Woolley	England	August 9, 1909	August 22, 1934	25 years 13 days
George Headley	West Indies	January 11, 1930	January 21, 1954	24 years 10 days
Sachin Tendulkar	India	November 15, 1989	November 16, 2013	24 years 1 day
John Traicos	South Africa/Zimbabwe	February 5, 1970	March 17, 1993	23 years 40 days
Jack Hobbs	England	January 1, 1908	August 22, 1930	22 years 233 days
George Gunn	England	December 13, 1907	April 12, 1930	22 years 120 days
Syd Gregory	Australia	July 21, 1890	August 22, 1912	22 years 32 days
Freddie Brown	England	July 29, 1931	June 30, 1953	21 years 336 days
Dave Nourse	South Africa	October 11, 1902	August 19, 1924	21 years 313 days
Brendan Taylor	Zimbabwe	May 6, 2004	August 7, 2025	21 years 93 days
James Anderson	England	May 22, 2003	July 12, 2024	21 years 51 days
Shivnarine Chanderpaul	West Indies	March 17, 1994	May 3, 2015	21 years 47 days

Brendan Taylor on the Verge of Joining an Elite Group in Zimbabwean Cricket

Brendan Taylor is on the verge of joining an elite group in Zimbabwean cricket. He needs just 62 runs to reach the 10,000-run milestone in international cricket. Taylor has scored 9,938 runs from 284 matches, including 2,320 in Tests, 6,684 in ODIs, and 934 in T20Is, with 17 centuries and 57 fifties.

Taylor could become only the third Zimbabwe player to surpass 10,000 runs. Andy Flower (11,580 runs) and Grant Flower (10,028) are the only players to achieve that. He is fourth among Zimbabwean batters in Test cricket, behind Andy Flower, who leads with 4,794 runs at an average of 51.54.

Also read: Watch: MS Dhoni reveals Virat Kohli’s hidden talents off the field; Video breaks internet

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Brendan Taylor James Anderson Sachin Tendulkar Zimbabwe National Cricket Team New Zealand National Cricket Team New Zealand vs Zimbabwe Zimbabwe vs New Zealand