ZIM vs AUS, 1st ODI: Zimbabwe’s veteran keeper-batter Brendan Taylor has broken Sachin Tendulkar’s record of holding the longest career in men’s ODI cricket. The former skipper’s 50-over career has now spanned 22 years and 148 days, going past the Indian legend’s 22 years and 91 days as it occurred during the first ODI against Australia in Harare on September 15, Tuesday.
ZIM vs AUS, 1st ODI: Sachin Tendulkar slips to second spot, Sri Lankan legend on third
Taylor’s ODI career has now spanned 22 years and 148 days, surpassing Tendulkar’s 22 years and 91 days. The Zimbabwean achieved the feat after featuring in the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Harare on Tuesday. Tendulkar has consequently slipped to second place on the list, while former Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya occupies third spot with an ODI career spanning 21 years and 184 days.
Tendulkar, however, continues to hold the record for the most runs in ODI cricket, with 18,426, as well as the most appearances in the format, having played 463 matches. Taylor, 40, made his ODI debut in April 2004 against Sri Lanka and went on to establish himself as one of Zimbabwe’s leading batters. Before Tuesday’s match, he had amassed 11 ODI centuries — a national record — in 207 appearances, with 6,704 runs to his name.
Taylor retired from international cricket in 2021. Four months later, in January 2022, he revealed that corruptors had attempted to lure him into fixing matches in 2019 by offering him cocaine and subsequently blackmailing him. Although Taylor stressed that he had never fixed a match, he admitted that he delayed reporting the approach to the ICC because he feared for his family’s safety, according to Cricinfo. He was eventually banned from all forms of cricket for three and a half years.
After completing his suspension, Taylor came out of retirement in 2025 as Zimbabwe began preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe’s neighbours South Africa and Namibia.
ZIM vs AUS, 1st ODI: Brendan Taylor set for crucial role as Australia set 295 for Zimbabwe to win
Meanwhile, the right-handed batter’s experience needs to come to the fore if Zimbabwe are to claim the series-opener at the Harare Sports Club.
Matt Renshaw’s maiden hundred along with Cooper Connolly’s brisk 51 lifted the tourists to a formidable total of 295. Newman Nyamhuri took a fifer, recording figures of 9-0-62-5.
(With inputs from ANI)
