Longest ODI careers: Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor enters all-time top 3, breaks 21st century world record in ZIM-SL match

Longest ODI careers: Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor enters all-time top 3, breaks 21st century world record in ZIM-SL match | Cricket News

Last updated: 2025/08/29 at 8:12 AM

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Taylor breaks 21st century ODI record Zimbabwean heavyweight Longest ODI careers

Veteran Zimbabwe batter Brendan Taylor continues to extend the boundaries of his successful comeback to international cricket following his lengthy absence from the sport after his suspension on the grounds of corruption.

The 39-year-old Taylor recently completed his three-and-a-half-year ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC), returning with scores of 44 and 7 in his first match since 2021, facing up against New Zealand in a Test in Harare earlier in August. Taylor then became the man with the longest Test career among all those who have debuted in the 21st century, and standing among the highest-ever in the history of the longest format.

Taylor breaks 21st century ODI record

Gearing up his first ODI match in four years in Harare on Friday, Taylor also broke the 21st century record for the longest ODI career among all batters who have debuted in the 50-over game since January 1, 2001.

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Taylor, who made his ODI debut in Bulawayo against Sri Lanka on April 20, 2004, returned for Zimbabwe against the same opposition in Harare to achieve the landmark. Taylor surpassed compatriot Sean Williams (19y 300d) for the longest ODI careers among players to have debuted in this century. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter also broke into the top 3 of all time, surpassing Pakistan legend Javed Miandad (20y 272d). Interestingly, only Sachin Tendulkar (22y 91d) and Sanath Jayasuriya (21y 184d) now stand ahead of Taylor in terms of longevity in men’s ODI cricket.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Longest Test careers: Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor breaks 21st century record

Since 1989, only India legend Tendulkar has recorded a longer Test career than Taylor, having appeared in 200 Tests spanning across 24 years and 1 day.

Zimbabwean heavyweight

Taylor remains one of Zimbabwe’s most prolific batters and has recorded the most centuries for the country (11) in the format. A hero at the 2015 ODI World Cup with 433 runs and two centuries in six innings, Taylor is only 103 runs short of surpassing Andy Flower as Zimbabwe’s highest run-scorer in ODIs.

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Brendan Taylor ODI record: Matches – 206; Runs – 6684; HS: 145*; Ave: 35.55; 100s – 11; 50s – 39.