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Brendan Taylor

BRENDAN Taylor admits the question of whether he will leave Nottinghamshire to return to Zimbabwe at the end of the season is tearing him apart.

Taylor is in the final year of his contract and has been offered the chance to resume his international career after retiring in 2015 to come to Trent Bridge as a Kolpak player.

Notts are keen for the 31-year-old to sign a new deal and ordinarily he would happily put pen to paper, insisting he has no desire to leave, but he admits he might have to for the sake of his wife and four young children, after twins joined the family over the winter.

“It’s tearing me apart. It really is,” he told the Post.

“This feels like home to me. The only reason I would leave would boil down to family. It’s just my new born twin babies. If it was just the two older lads we have then we could manage. It’s a different dynamic now and we’re trying to juggle that.

“If we can get something in place next year who knows. I came here with a long-term plan. It wasn’t just play for three years and then go back. There’s where we’re at right now. I love it to death here. I really do. I don’t want to leave. My hope is I play here for a few more years.”

Despite the emotional struggle he is facing off the pitch, the batsman says it is not an issue on the pitch as he prepares to sit down with Notts director of cricket Mick Newell to discuss his future.

“It’s all with the agents. That’s how it works,” he said after last Friday’s win against Birmingham Bears.

“I’m able to focus on my cricket which is nice. I don’t know what will transpire to be honest. I’m yet to hear from the club. It will be nice to sit down with Mick but it’s been a very busy spell for the team in the last few weeks.”

Taylor went into this season admitting it was possibly the biggest of his career as he looked to produce his best form for Notts on a consistent basis.

He returned for pre-season in improved shape physically and, despite a frustrating injury in March, the former Zimbabwe captain has enjoyed a strong campaign, averaging 53 as Notts won the Royal London One Day Cup.

Taylor spoke extensively about wanting to win silverware when he signed for Notts, identifying it is a key factor to move away from Harare.

He says winning at Lord’s was the highlight of what has already been an incredible season, with Notts producing “world class” cricket on one hand, while also seeing Michael Lumb and Greg Smith retire at the other end of the emotional scale.

“Winning at Lord’s was a massive feather in the cap,” he said.

“We came close in my first year here and then last year we got relegated and came up short on T20 Finals Day. There’s so much to play for this year. We’re a really nice revamped side under Moorsey (head coach Peter Moores). He really gets the best out of you in terms of playing with freedom and flair. There’s no cloud over your head as a player.

“Last year was one we wanted to put behind us and at the moment we’re doing that very well. Right now is a time when players get tired with a lot of cricket being played. There’s no room to take our foot off the gas.

“If anything we need to raise it again.

“It’s been an emotional year, good and bad. Losing two good blokes in Lumby and Greg was a tough pill to swallow. In terms of winning, we’ve had a team where every player has contributed. We’ve seen world class cricket produced by us. There’s been some of the best batting you’ll see anywhere. It’s been amazing to be a part of. Winning at Lord’s was incredible but if we can add another trophy it will be a very good year for us.”

Whether it is his last year at the club remains to be seen. – Nottingham Post