Brendan Taylor's international career could have been ended long ago. But the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team batter, who refused to step down multiple times, has scripted his name in the history books.

Taylor has registered a Test century for Zimbabwe at the age of 40 Years and 272 Days. In the ongoing match against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team, the experienced middle-order batter claimed another hundred, bringing him to an international record.

Record for Zimbabwe's Brendan Taylor

As soon as Brendan Taylor completed his century today (November 5) against Afghanistan in Sharjah, he set the record. According to records, before Taylor's Test century at 40, only one batter had registered a century for his nation as the oldest batter in the format since 2000.

Former Pakistan batter Misbah-ul-Haq holds the record for scoring a century in Test cricket since 2,000. Taylor has claimed the second spot on the record tally, surpassing another Zimbabwean cricket star Craig Ervine. Ervine's Test century at the age of 39 years and 129 days in Bulawayo was also against Zimbabwe.

Since 2000, Oldest to Score 100s in Tests:

42 Years 47 Days - Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) vs England, Lord's, 2016
40 Years 272 Days - Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe) vs Afghanistan, Sharjah, 2926
39 years 129 Days – Craig Ervine (Zimbabwe) vs Afghanistan, Bulawayo, 2024

Zimbabwe in control against Afghanistan

Talking about the ongoing Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe match, Zimbabwe is so far in control on Day 1, at the Drinks break. Taylor's century has definitely provided the visitors with a major boost in the match. Taylor lost his wicket after scoring 131 runs off 168 balls. The 168-ball innings was laced with 14 fours and four 6s.

On the first ball of the 69th over of the first innings, Afghanistan dismissed him through Hashmatullah Shahidi. Ziaur Rahman ran to his left to grab the ball in the long-off region. By the time Taylor lost his scalp, Zimbabwe was on 262 runs, with seven more wickets in hand.

Since making international debut in 2004, Brendan Taylor has featured in 37 Test matches for New Zealand. In 72 innings, the middle-order batter has scored 2420 runs with a batting average of 35.58. His batting stats are supported by twelve half-centuries and six centuries.

Brendan Taylor made his return in 2025

Taylor possesses impressive batting stats against Afghanistan. He has claimed an average of 81.50, scoring 163 runs in two matches and as many innings.

It is his fourth Test match since making a return for Zimbabwe in international cricket. After missing out for four years, Brendan Taylor made his strides back in international matches in 2025. On his return, he scored a 44-run innings against New Zealand in a home Test series. Taylor missed cricket following his abrupt retirement in September 2021 due to a 3.5-year ICC anti-corruption and anti-doping ban issued in January 2022.

He was also the captain of the team during his prime days. But the allegations of match-fixing and then the ban by the ICC dented his professional cricket career.