Full Name Tatenda Taibu Birth Place Harare, Zimbabwe Relations Kudzai Taibu (brother) Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | Role Wicketkeeper Spouse Loveness Taibu National team Zimbabwe Batting style Right handed | |
 | ||
Born ( 1983-05-14 ) 14 May 1983 (age 40) Siblings Kudzai Taibu Nickname Tibbly Bowling style Right arm off spin/right arm medium Number 44 (Zimbabwe national cricket team) | ||
Tatenda taibu quits cricket for church aged 29
Tatenda Taibu (born 14 May 1983) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer. He played in the key dual role of wicketkeeper-batsman. On 6 May 2004, he became the youngest Test captain in history, when he captained his team against Sri Lanka. On 10 July 2012 Taibu, aged only 29, decided to quit cricket and focus on his work in church.
Contents
- Tatenda taibu quits cricket for church aged 29
- International career
- Teams
- Career summary
- Tests
- One day internationals
- References
International career
Taibu made his first-class debut at the age of 16, and his debut for the national team in 2001, at 18. In 2003, he was appointed vice-captain to Heath Streak on the team's tour of England, and he was appointed national captain in April 2004, making him the youngest Test captain in history.
He took a two-year break for Zimbabwe in from 2005 to 2007 when he played a season as the captain of Namibia and another season for the Cape Cobras in South Africa.
He made his return to the Zimbabwean side in a series against India A in July 2007, registering a century. The following month Zimbabwe hosted South Africa for a three-game ODI series and in the final game Taibu scored a career best 107 not out. It was the first ODI century by a Zimbabwean against South Africa.
On 20 February 2008, Taibu's contract was purchased by the Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League.
During 2010 Taibu's form continued and he scored 73 against South Africa as Zimbabwe were all out for 268. The South Africans chased down the total comfortably with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers scoring centuries.
When Zimbabwe returned to Test cricket in 2011, Taibu was selected to play in their one-off Tests against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand despite making critical remarks of the country's cricket administration. He scored half-centuries in each of the three Tests.
On 10 July 2012, Tatenda Taibu called time on his career aged 29. He said he would only do work for the church. Taibu told Zimeye: “I just feel that my true calling now lies in doing the Lord’s work, and although I am fortunate and proud to have played for my country, the time has come for me to put my entire focus on that part of my life.”
Tatenda currently plays for Hightown St. Mary's CC in the First Division of the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition.
Teams
Career summary
He scored 1546 runs in Tests with 57 catches and five stumpings, while making 3393 runs in ODIs with 114 catches and 33 stumpings. He finishes as Zimbabwe’s fourth highest run-scorer in ODIs with the second most number of dismissals as a wicketkeeper, behind Andy Flower.
Tests
Test Debut: vs West Indies, Bulawayo, 2001
Latest Test: vs South Africa, Centurion, 2004–2005
One-day internationals
ODI Debut: vs West Indies, Harare, 2001
Latest ODI: vs Kenya at Kolkata, India 20 March 2011