145;I felt we did a great job in difficult circumstances146;

Tatenda Taibu becomes the youngest modern Test captain when he leads Zimbabwe out after his traumatic ODI debut where Zimbabwe were hammered...

Tatenda Taibu becomes the youngest modern Test captain when he leads Zimbabwe out after his traumatic ODI debut where Zimbabwe were hammered 5-0 by the Sri Lankan tourists.

As a row starts within the International Cricket Council over another crisis affecting Zimbabwe, Taibu8217;s leadership of the Test side might will not be very different from that in the ODIs with the white refusing to return following differences with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

Taibu though is doing what he can to keep out of the latest row that has erupted around the tour. As he said the other day in an interview, 8216;8216;I am keeping my mouth shut. It is the best policy. My main concern is what type of team we will have for the two Tests.8217;8217;

Educated at Churchill High School, in Harare, Taibu has enough to think about. Only 20 and here he is being asked to lead a side that was hopelessly outclassed 5-0 in the limited overs series.

Named after Sir Winston Churchill, the school that Taibu matriculated from and saw him ushered into the international arena through the Youth World Cup under19 in Sri Lanka in 2000, the senior school has a reputation for the developing quality young players. Stuart Matsikenyeri is one of them and a confident of the new captain.

Taibu8217;s story though is typical of your modern African tragedy if not dilemma. Brought up in a family which battled to survive and make ends meet, he lost his mother a couple of years ago while there has been no sign of his father since he was small. It was left to his mother to bring up the family of four. He won a scholarship to Churchill and from there moved to the national academy.

In a country like Robert Mugabe8217;s fiefdom, players such as Taibu, although given a chance to prove themselves, are still learning their trade. It is hard enough to captain as well as keep wickets at the same time.

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Yet he is determined to rise to the challenge. It is a matter of self belief. But then again, Taibu has shown during the ODI series that he is adept at filling the secondary role of a medium pace bowler.

8216;8216;I have given a lot of thought to my captaincy and learnt a lot during the ODI series,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;Right now I am just happy to be in a position where I can serve and learn. My aim during the ODI series was to keep performing and to see whether we had the players to win matches. I still feel we are capable of beating Bangladesh with that side. In the ODI series I didn8217;t particularly set myself any goals. Earning man of the series came as a surprise, but I accepted it on behalf of the team.8217;8217;

8216;8216;I felt we did a great job in difficult circumstances. But as with the case when I came into the side the first time, it was a matter of retaining my place in the side as wicketkeeper and allow my batting to develop. What did make the job easier was being vice-captain to Streaky in England last year and also to Australia. Not easy tours. I was 19 last year when they made me vice-captain for the tour on England and then Australia,8217;8217; he confirmed.

8216;8216;I was initially surprised. And I spoke to the selectors who wanted me to be understudy to Streak, so that someone should be able to fill in if required. I am always ready for the tasks I am given and I want to make the best out of each opportunity that comes my way,8217;8217; Taibu says.

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Taibu feels he learnt much from the West Indies tour of a couple of years ago. 8216;8216;It was an enlivening experience. There is much to prove this series again Sri Lanka and we have to get it right before the Australians arrive for their series,8217;8217; he says. 8216;8216;I want to improve my game at all levels.8217;8217;