ICC World Cup: Brendan Taylor hopes to end Zimbabwe career on a high

Auckland Top Zimbabwe wicketkeeperbatsman Brendan Taylor could be featuring in his last game for his country when his side faces India in their last World Cup Pool B game at the Seddon Park on SaturdayTaylor has signed a threeyear Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire subject to England and Wales Cricket Board ECB approval which makes him ineligible to play for Zimbabwe while that contract is in effectZimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor celebrates his century at the Bellerive Oval ground during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015Pool B match against Ireland in Hobart on March 7 PicAFP The Kolpak deal allows English county cricket clubs to employ the services of a multitude of overseas cricketers Under the Kolpak ruling citizens of countries that have signed European Union Association Agreements have the same right to freedom of work and movement within the EU as EU citizens African Caribbean and Pacific APC Group of States have also signed the agreementHis availability for the county team will only be confirmed after the ongoing quadrennial event However he has left the door ajar for playing for Zimbabwe again after the expiry of the threeyear contract but could also go on to turn up in England coloursTerming the decision as one of the biggest he has had to take the 29yearold who has been Zimbabwersquos middleorder mainstay for a long time said he feels sad leaving his national team but added it was a decision taken for his familyIts been one of the biggest decisions Ive had to make in fact the biggest decision Taylor was quoted as saying by espncricinfo on ThursdayIve always been very passionate about playing for Zimbabwe I still am I sat down with my wife and we decided to make this decision together I feel very sad about it but at the same time very excited to be a part of one of the better county sides in EnglandldquoTheyve welcomed me with open arms and Im looking forward to cementing a good relationship with them over the next three yearsrdquo he saidTaylor has played 23 Tests and 26 T20Is The match against India will be his 167th ODI He has 5120 ODI runs and 1493 Test runs both at an average of 34Lucky to have donned Zimbabwe jerseyAhead of his last match in a Zimbabwe shirt veteran batsman Brendan Taylor on Friday said that he is lucky to have represented his country on the world stage but is sad that his international career is coming to an endTaylor has signed a threeyear Kolpak deal with Nottinghamshire subject to England and Wales Cricket Boards ECB approval which makes him ineligible to play for Zimbabwe while that contract is in placeReflecting on his 11yearold international career Taylor said ldquoIts been an enjoyable 11 years that I have been extremely grateful for Every players dream is to represent their country and Ive been lucky enough to do thatrdquoldquoSad for me is that itll be ending but Im very proud to be a Zimbabwean I am very proud to represent my country on a great stage tomorrow to finish up and hopefully end on a high noterdquoTaylor will play his last international match against India in a World Cup Pool B match at the Eden Park here on SaturdaySpeaking about his decision to get into county cricket Taylor said it was a tough one which was arrived at after consultations with his familyldquoIt hasnt been an easy decision to make International cricket has always been the pinnacle for me but it is something that I discussed with my family and my wife All players tend to try and maximise a little bit and when youve got kids at home you want to try and make sure they have got the best sort of upbringing that you can give them All these sort of favoured the decision Its a threeyear decisionrdquo he saidThe 29yearold has played 166 OneDay Internationals ODI scoring 5120 runs at an average of 3413 He hit seven centuries and 32 halfcenturies in his career as a wicketkeeperbatsman with a highest of 145 not outOn his most memorable memory while representing Zimbabwe Taylor said ldquoThere are some fond memories but it would probably be our first Test win against Bangladesh that would top the chartsrdquo