In a fresh Gers update on the potential arrival of Steven Gerrard at Ibrox, reports are now indicating that Teddy Bears chief, Kevin Thelwell, has been asked to change his role slightly at Rangers.

Who could join Gerrard at Rangers?

It looks as though Gerrard is almost certain to become the next Rangers manager at this stage.

The Liverpool legend is reportedly on the brink of an agreement and his backroom staff is already a topic of discussion in Glasgow. After admitting the need to lean on his staff, the Gers could yet welcome back some more familiar faces in the coming days.

According to recent reports, Gary McAllister and Jermain Defoe are likely to join Gerrard by returning to Rangers and the incoming boss also wants to bring former England coach Steve Holland to the club. Perhaps in an ideal world for Gerrard personally, Michael Beale would be coming back to his role as assistant, but his return to the club would not be as welcomed.

Getting things right in every department, from the manager to the rest of his staff, should be a top priority for the 49ers.

The last thing they need is to fail twice in their first year in Scotland, having already watched Russell Martin crash and burn.

Gerrard’s arrival should steady the ship after such a disastrous start. Whether it’s enough to keep hold of the likes of Nicolas Raskin is another question, however. Recent transfer rumours have suggested that Besiktas are ready to rescue the midfielder as soon as January in what would be an early blow for the new manager.

After telling one Ibrox chief to change his role upon his arrival, though, it’s the type of situation that Gerrard will be hoping to avoid.

Steven Gerrard tells Kevin Thelwell to adjust Rangers role

According to talkSPORT, with his return drawing near, Gerrard has indirectly told Kevin Thelwell to adjust his role as sporting director, with the incoming new manager demanding a “decisive say” on transfers and Rangers’ recruitment drive.

Celtic warned Gerrard has immediate Ibrox plan that Rangers fans will love

He’s already got lofty ambitions…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 11, 2025

Whilst Martin received his fair share of criticism in the summer, Thelwell hasn’t exactly enjoyed an impressive start to life at Rangers.

The sporting director helped bring as many as 14 fresh faces to Glasgow in the summer transfer window, and it’s difficult to pick one name other than Djeidi Gassama who has got off to a positive start.

Former Rangers ace Kris Boyd recognised that when Martin’s tenure came to an end.

Whether Gerrard’s influence turns things around on the recruitment front is now the big question, as Thelwell looks to turn his own poor start around at Ibrox.

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Abalado com a eliminação do Corinthians diante do Fortaleza, na semifinal da Copa Sul-Americana, o lateral Fábio Santos adotou tom de despedida e indicou que vai se aposentar ao final da temporada. Ele possui contrato até o final de 2023.

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– Grandes chances. Não queria confirmar isso agora, estava deixando para o final do ano, para quem sabe uma conquista. Agora vai ser difícil achar forças e motivação para continuar, pela minha carreira e história no clube que eu amo de paixão, terminar da forma mais digna possível – disse Fábio ao SBT.

Emocionado, o lateral de 38 anos falou sobre a importância que seria a conquista da Sul-Americana para coroar sua passagem no Timão.

– É difícil falar nesse momento. Sei que está chegando ao fim a carreira, mais do que ninguém eu queria esse título para fechar com chave de ouro. Voltei para o clube em um momento onde precisava, queria dar essa conquista para minha família – comentou.

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Fábio Santos tem sido alvo de críticas da torcida pelo rendimento na lateral. Mais uma vez, ele falhou nos gols sofridos pelo Corinthians e foi apontado como vilão na eliminação do Corinthians diante do Fortaleza. O atleta pediu desculpas ao torcedor e disse que o acúmulo de jogos na temporada atrapalhou seu rendimento em 2023.

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– Tem sido um ano muito difícil, apanhando desde o começo, mas nunca me escondi, mesmo com 38 anos, tenho quase 50 jogos na temporada. Isso acabou dificultando um pouco. Agora é achar motivação para terminar a temporada e quem sabe terminar a carreira de uma forma digna, com tudo que construí dentro do clube. Peço desculpas ao torcedor, é um dos momentos mais complicados, ninguém pensa em parar, tem sido um ano bastante complicado para aceitar esse tipo de situação – afirmou Fábio Santos.

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GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in MLS, including Arfsten elevating his game to lead the Crew

If the magic of the MLS playoffs was ever in doubt, this year’s edition might change a few minds. Five Game 3s await, and even the league’s biggest star, Lionel Messi, could be watching from home by the end of the weekend. 

And U.S. internationals continue to play their part.

Each of the remaining win-or-go-home matches features at least one player who has been called up by USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino. Saturday's FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew match will have five: Max Arfsten, Sean Zawadzki, Patrick Schulte, Miles Robinson and Roman Celentano. And stars such as Arfsten, in particular, have been impressive.

With Pochettino set to announce his November squad, the composition of the team could be a referendum on how much he values strong MLS postseason showings.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from USMNT players in MLS.

• 'Hell is Real' gets very real

  It took brilliant defending and a bit of luck from Kevin Denkey for FC Cincinnati to edge past the Columbus Crew in Game 1 of the "Hell of Real" playoff series. Yet the Crew blew past FCC in the second match with ease. They have an incredible performance from wing-back Max Arfsten to thank.

  Arfsten scored the game's opener in the 33rd minute to set the tone, and then assisted Andres Herrera for Columbus' third goal – effectively sealing the game. For good measure, the 24-year-old also assisted on Jacen Russell-Rowe's goal to push it to 4-0. 

  Considering the circumstances, one could argue this was Arfsten's best showing as a member of the Crew. It wasn't long ago that he was being linked with clubs in Europe, only to ultimately re-up with the Columbus. Those clubs' loss has been a mighty gain for the Crew.

  There were concerns that well-regarded manager Wilfried Nancy has lost his magic this season after the Crew finished seventh. But his team, and several of its American stars, stepped up.

  The Crew exposed some critical flaws by Pat Noonan's FCC. Cincinnati's flank defending was woeful, often leaving leading centerback Robinson exposed. Robinson had a substandard outing, with two interceptions, one tackle and one clearance.

  Although Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium, they will need to address their issues in marking width if they hope to advance.

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  Stealing back home advantage

  Tim Ream's Charlotte FC were criticized for letting home field advantage slip when they dropped Game 1 to Matt Freese and NYCFC. The Crown, buoyed by Wilfried Zaha's return, stole it right back in Game 2 in a 0-0 (7-6 penalties) win. 

  In a tight match, neither side could build an attack and defense became pivotal. Ream played his part for the visitors. The 38-year-old had 10 defensive contributions, including eight clearances to go along with one interception and one tackle. In addition, Ream's trademark passing was on display, with the centerback connecting on seven of 16 long-ball attempts.

  On the other end, Freese had a solid night with three saves. 

  NYCFC and Charlotte haven't produced the most eye-appealing football in these playoffs, with exactly one goal between them. But Charlotte now have an edge for Game 3 as they'll be playing in what should be a packed Bank of America stadium on Friday.

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  Sounders strike back

  Among the bigger Game 1 results was Minnesota United edging the Seattle Sounders on penalties in a 0-0 (3-2 PKs) win. The action on the pitch wasn't great, but it appeared as if Eric Ramsay had his Loons side take a page from Brian Schmetzer's playbook to pull off the home win. This was a match in which, typically, Seattle would excel.

  At Lumen Field in Game 2, the Sounders delivered their own version of Monday Night Football as they blasted past Minnesota in a 4-2 win. CONCACAF played a part in the result, with Mexico's Oded Vargas named Man of the Match after scoring a brace. U.S. internationals Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan also left their mark.

  Morris, who hasn't been called up to the USMNT since 2023, pushed Seattle's advantage to 2-0 in the 21st minute with a goal, while Roldan had two MLS-style hockey assists, and also had seven defensive contributions. 

  Morris was once considered to be part of the USMNT's future as he was the first collegiate player called up to the senior squad in 15 years, back in 2014. Injuries and his decision to play his career in the U.S. are perceived as reasons why he hasn't been more of a regular, especially in the last two years. 

  “I think people doubt the level of MLS and need to kind of change their mindset in that sense because the league's growing. It's a tough league, and you see the players coming in, I think it deserves a lot more respect than it gets,” Morris told GOAL. “And then you see with the growth of the league to the growth of the talent. It's a difficult league to play in, and I think it deserves a lot more respect than it gets, because it's growing.”

  Fortunately for Morris, Pochettino has echoed those comments, praising MLS's competitiveness. While it is unlikely that Morris will be back the fold, he can look to his teammate Roldan as example of how to do so. Roldan's work rate was a welcome addition to the squad in October. A lot will depend on just how Seattle goes in these playoffs.

  Each game is another audition for Pochettino and his staff, and Morris will need to continue his form to make a case. Saturday will be a good indicator of whether he'll get more opportunities.

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  Walker Zimmerman sitting on an upset?

  An upstart lower seed with a USMNT veteran on defense could be on the verge of upsetting Lionel Messi's supersquad.

  If that sounds familiar, it should. Last year, Atlanta United, led by Brad Guzan, stunned the Supporters' Shield holders in a classic first-round win over Inter Miami. Now, this year, there could be a similar result. 

  Walker Zimmerman and Nashville SC leveled the series against Miami last weekend, and while he's not a goalkeeper like Guzan, he was certainly effective. The 32-year-old had four clearances and three recoveries against the Herons. While Nashville aren't as effective in counter-attacking as Atlanta were last year, B.J. Callaghan's side have more skilled players, such as Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar.

  They will also be boosted by Luis Suarez's suspension for Game 3. The league took action against the Miami veteran for an off-ball incident with Andy Najar. Suarez is well past his best, but he is an important attacking conduit for Messi, as evidenced by his 15 assists. 

  While Miami are still favorites, if Zimmerman is at his best, the Boys in Gold could walk away with a big upset in Game 3 on Saturday. 

Before he steps up to the plate, Cubs outfielder Ian Happ peers at a bull’s-eye sticker affixed to the inside of his batting helmet, just above the earpiece—a quick depth perception exercise that reminds his brain to utilize both eyes while at bat. This small habit is just one element of Happ’s vision-training routine, which he started after posting career lows in batting average (.226), on-base percentage (.323) and OPS (.757) during the 2021 season. A teammate referred him to Ryan Harrison, owner of SlowtheGameDown, a vision performance program based in Irvine, Calif. 

“We want people working on our bodies and swings, but if you can’t see the ball, you’re not going to have much success,” Happ says. “I think it’s a big part of what we do and it’s the least [thing] emphasized or trained.”

Indeed, shoulder presses and squats are workout standbys, but exercises for the eyes are often overlooked. That’s where Harrison—who works with athletes in baseball, football and hockey—concentrates his training. The eye contains six muscles that work together to move it in all directions, like the strings on a marionette. They are divided into two groups: the recti, the primary vertical movers when the eye is abducted, or looking away from the nose; and the oblique, used when the eye is adducted, or looking towards the nose. During his initial evaluation with an athlete, Harrison uses a series of tests and drills, most of which originate from another time—and another Harrison. After playing baseball at Cal, Ryan’s father Bill became an eye doctor and later began working with the Royals as a vision-training specialist in 1971. He went on to work with 15 MLB organizations and several NCAA baseball programs before his death in 2019.

“A lot of the stuff we do today is based on what they were doing in the ’70s,” says Ryan. “The technology is updated. But the brain and the eyes haven’t changed. It’s really about how we’re using those skill sets and enhancing them.”

Juan Soto is—by far—the biggest name to hit the open market this MLB offseason.

As teams prepare to break the bank for the 26-year-old superstar, agent Scott Boras outlined to reporters Wednesday exactly what Soto is looking for as he makes his decision this offseason.

"Juan Soto wants ownership that he knows is going to support an opportunity to win annually," Boras said. "His focus always was, 'I want to know who my owner is; I want to know that we're going to be able to win. And I want to know that, besides me, there's going to be a great number of support on part of the owner that he has the same desire to win that I do."

Soto is hitting the market for the first time after seven seasons in the big leagues in which he earned four All-Star nods, four Silver Sluggers and a World Series title with the Washington Nationals in 2019.

In 2024, Soto batted .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs for the New York Yankees. He is expected to sign a massive long-term contract this winter north of $50 million per season for at least 10 years.

One of those teams expected to be in the mix to sign Soto are the Yankees, who finished just shy of their first World Series title since 2009 by falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

"Playing in New York for Juan was really, really comfortable," Boras said. "He really, really enjoyed his teammates, the Yankees experience. Juan loves winning."

Uneven contest at The Oval as visitors coast home with whopping 30.5 overs to spare

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Excellent bowling from veteran seamer James Fuller, inexperienced slow left-armer Andrew Neal and pacy 16-year-old Manny Lumsden proved too much for Surrey at the Kia Oval in what became an embarrassingly one-sided nine-wicket Hampshire victory.The Hawks dismissed Surrey for 160 in 46.3 overs before skipper Nick Gubbins anchored a buccaneering chase with 87 not out from 60 balls. Hampshire’s fourth win in five Group A matches, clinched with a massive 30.5 overs to spare, boosts their ambitions of qualification for the Metro Bank One-Day Cup knockout stages.Gubbins was initially joined in an opening stand of 54 with Ali Orr before Fletcha Middleton arrived to hit an unbeaten 35 from 24 balls in an unbroken second wicket stand of 108 in just 9.3 overs.Fast bowler Nathan Barnwell was thrashed for 50 from his three overs – Gubbins twice hoicking him for six in an opening over costing 21 – and left-arm spinner Yousuf Majid’s three overs went for 31 as Gubbins and Middleton accelerated brutally towards the finish line. Gubbins hit three sixes and 13 fours in all, while Middleton’s contribution was two sixes and four fours.Earlier 35-year-old Fuller finished with 4 for 34 after polishing off a Surrey innings that never got going and was in danger of complete implosion at 89 for 6 before keeper-batter Josh Blake and bowlers James Taylor, Barnwell and Majid provided at least some lower order resistance in front of a near-5,000 crowd.Blake was Surrey’s joint top-scorer with 22 alongside South Asian Cricket Academy graduate Nikhil Gorantla, who was Fuller’s first victim when he was excellently caught low down by Neal diving forward at mid-on in the 18th over.That left Surrey 68 for 3 and rookie tyro Lumsden had already made his mark by then, first forcing Rory Burns to miscue a pull to his fourth ball – to be caught and bowled for 20 – and then seeing Adam Thomas chop on to his stumps for 12 in his third over.At 16 years and 288 days, Lumsden bowled with genuine pace in just his second List A appearance and although there were a number of wild deliveries, including an intended bouncer that flew for four wides, he impressed across two spells in his 2 for 46 from 10 overs.Even more impressive was 25-year-old spinner Neal, who played two first-class matches for Leeds-Bradford MCCU in 2019 but only made the first of his previous four List A appearances earlier this month at the start of Hampshire’s One-Day Cup campaign.His 3 for 33 from 10 nicely-controlled overs now gives him nine wickets in the competition and here he numbered the Surrey middle-order of Ben Foakes, Ollie Sykes and Cameron Steel as his scalps. Foakes mishit to long on for 5, Sykes was brilliantly held by a diving Felix Organ at long on for 7 and Steel drove tamely to short extra cover to go for 5.Blake’s 22 was ended by a fatal nibble at Fuller, Taylor offered a few meaty blows before skying Scotland allrounder Brandon McMullen to long-on and Barnwell departed for 15 miscuing high to keeper Ben Mayes.Majid was left 13 not out when No. 11 Alex French fenced Fuller to slip to go for a fifth-ball duck and all that remained was to see how quickly Hampshire’s top order could knock off the runs. Thanks to Gubbins, Orr and Middleton the match was over by 4.10pm.

As they prepare to square off against Chelsea in search of a victory that could see them rise into the Premier League’s top four, Sunderland have been handed a major blow.

Le Bris delivers verdict on "really strong" Chelsea side

The Black Cats have been a joy to watch so far this season and last weekend featured yet another moment to remember for those in Wearside as they brushed past Wolverhampton Wanderers. In a game that many tipped to be a relegation six-pointer, Sunderland laid down a marker and now sit as high as seventh in the Premier League on 14 points.

One of their biggest tests now awaits, however. In search of back-to-back wins in the Premier League, Sunderland will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea this Saturday.

The Blues just eased past Ajax in the Champions League and Regis Le Bris knows exactly how impressive Enzo Maresca’s side can be – telling reporters: It’s been a good start to the season. It shows we were consistent, flexible.

“Chelsea are really strong, it’s a top four team in the Premier League. They can play 60 games, they have depth, young and dynamic. It’s a good example for us. They are well coached and have individuals who can win a game. A big test.”

Victory over one of the Premier League’s big six would be Sunderland’s biggest statement yet, especially on the road. So far this season, for all their impressive form, they’ve won just once on the road and that came against a Nottingham Forest side in crisis.

Le Bris has already found the formula to success at the Stadium of Light, but replicating that form without home comforts should see Sunderland survive with ease. If the Black Cats are looking to commence that away form this weekend, however, then they’ll have to do so without one of their key men.

Premier League rule forces Alderete out of Chelsea game

As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Sunderland will now be without Omar Alderete against Chelsea courtesy of the Premier League’s concussion protocols, which were introduced for the 2014-15 season. The rules state that once a concussion is diagnosed, players must follow a mandatory graduated return to play protocol, which is a staged program of activity that takes at least 14 days.

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Le Bris admitted that this could also see Alderete miss the Everton game on Monday 3 November, telling reporters: “The only one [injury concern]. is Omar – he is under concussions protocols. He is having daily assessments – we’ll keep monitoring him. We will see if he can make Everton.”

It’s frustrating news for Sunderland, who have quickly seen Alderete become an integral part of Le Bris’ backline since the start of the season. Without him, the Black Cats could turn towards the experienced and versatile Luke O’Nien, who’d be making his first Premier League appearance of the campaign.

Already thinking about further reinforcements in 2026, Newcastle United are now reportedly racing to sign a £55m star in an attempt to build a new midfield partnership.

Sandro Tonali extends Newcastle stay

It’s been a good week for Newcastle since they suffered defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Not only have they bounced back in style on the pitch, defeating Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 3-0, they’ve also got to work off the pitch to ease any fears about Sandro Tonali’s future.

After holding secret talks with the Italian, the Magpies have extended his contract until 2029 in a deal that also includes the option to extend for an additional year. As reported by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Tonali agreed a deal in secret during his ban for illegal betting in an attempt to protect Newcastle financially during his absence.

Repaying the good faith that Newcastle showed in him during his ban, Tonali’s contract will now run until 2029. It comes as a huge relief for St James’ Park, with concerns beginning to grow that they could face an Alexander Isak repeat before the news of the Italian’s new deal emerged.

Now, all focus will be on putting that new contract to use on the pitch. The 25-year-old is one of the most important players under Eddie Howe and the Magpies will need him at the top of his game as they look to end their frustrating start in the Premier League.

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Joe Nuttall

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What’s more, now that his contract has been signed and sealed, those in Tyneside have reportedly turned their attention towards handing the former AC Milan man an impressive midfield partner.

Newcastle now racing to sign Elliot Anderson

As reported by iNews, Newcastle are now racing to re-sign Elliot Anderson in an attempt to build on their secret Tonali deal and build an impressive midfield partnership in discreet fashion.

Anderson’s return to the club won’t come cheap, however. After selling the England international to Nottingham Forest in 2024 for around £30m, the Tricky Trees have now reportedly set his price-tag at £55m.

The midfielder’s return is certainly something that Howe would get behind. The Newcastle boss still regrets having to sell Anderson amid PSR troubles and recently took the time to praise his rise to form at the City Ground.

At 22 years old, Anderson’s career could still feature plenty of twists and turns, including a return to Tyneside to from a fresh midfield partnership with Tonali.

Chelsea star Keira Walsh claimed that she loves to set up goals more than scoring them but she has changed her 'mindset' under pressure from team-mates and manager Sonia Bompastor. After spending two-and-a-half seasons at European giants Barcelona, the English midfielder returned to her home in February 2025 as the Women's Super League winners signed her.

• Shift in Walsh's position in new season

  Walsh, who is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world at the moment, operated in a deep role after signing for the Blues earlier this year. However, since the start of the 2025-26 campaign, Walsh has been deployed in a more advanced position, which is allowing her to contribute more to the team's attack. The change in position also helped her score her first-ever Chelsea goal last month as Walsh's solitary strike helped her club beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0.

  In the seven Women's Super League matches Walsh played last season, she had only one shot on goal. Compared to that, in the eight matches she has played this season, the midfielder already has 14 shots to her name. 

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  'I've always preferred playing the assist'

  Speaking to , Walsh opened up on her change of role, revealing that her team-mates and coaches have played a role in her development. 

  "It's maybe not position and playing further forward, but Sonia and Cami [Abily, Chelsea's assistant manager] are always telling me to shoot, and it was the same when I played at Barca," she said. "The girls were always encouraging me. For myself, I've always preferred playing the assist or the assist before the assist. That's something that I've always liked doing.

  "It was about me changing my mindset a little bit and still trying to help the team in that respect – maybe it is taking a shot more, and sometimes I was probably overplaying a little bit. It's feeling more confident, and Sonia and Cami really encouraged me to do that. Not a lot of central defensive midfielders do, apart from [Moises] Caicedo. The way I play defensive midfield it is more about breaking lines and trying to break presses, and contributing a little bit more in attack. I'm not known for my big tackles, although I am working on that. When it opens up, Sonia's encouraged me to take the ball forward, and if I feel like a shot is on, then it's being free to do that."

• Walsh aiming 'to be in the right place at the right time'

  Walsh added: "In the position I play, a lot of it will be on the second phase or drop-downs, and maybe from set-pieces with the drop-downs there as well. It's trying to be in the right place at the right time. I'm not as good as Sam Kerr at that, but recently, I feel like I've been lucky with where the ball has landed and opened up for a shot. Previously, I would have tried to make a pass in the box, and with a lot of bodies around, it's not ideal. Cami is always going on at me to shoot, whether it's right foot or left foot. The left foot's not so great, so I try not to do that too much."

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  Injury blow for Chelsea ahead of Liverpool

  Blues boss Bompastor has confirmed that star goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been ruled out of action for a few weeks due to a quad injury. Speaking ahead of Chelsea's clash against Liverpool on Sunday, the manager said: "Hannah won't be here. She picked up a quad injury. She will be out for a few weeks. We'll see if we see her before the end of the year but I'm not sure. It could be the case, yes."

“Three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and now I am doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe,” he said on the first day of the second Test

Firdose Moonda07-Aug-2025Brendan Taylor has described making his comeback to international cricket as “a debut-like feeling,” ahead of Zimbabwe’s second Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.Taylor, who spoke to ESPNcricinfo in May about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, his sanction and his plans for the future, returned to Zimbabwe’s XI after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code with a new lease on life.”How good is it that three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and now I am here doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe?” Taylor told the broadcaster in an emotional interview before the first day’s play. “Dealing with the sanction, dealing with my own internal chaos – there was not a specific day, there were multiple days of trauma.Related

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“I was in the dark depths in the abyss and trying to just get through this total and incomprehensible demoralisation of life. It was incredibly difficult.”In 2021, Taylor abruptly retired from international cricket in Belfast and seven months later revealed that he had been approached by fixers, who threatened him with exposing his use of cocaine unless he acted on their instruction. He refused to do that, retired, and then checked himself into rehab when his ban was announced in early 2022. Taylor, who could not be involved in any official cricketing structures due to the conditions of his sanction, then set up a coaching facility in his home, as he hoped to move into coaching on his return. However, Zimbabwe’s Cricket MD Givemore Makoni convinced Taylor to return to playing with the 2027 World Cup in mind and he is ready to give it his all after years of introspection.”There’s always that shame and guilt of letting down your family. That’s a tough thing to deal with. But the way my family rallied and supported me was overwhelming. It’s almost a regret why I didn’t lean on them earlier.”Taylor’s wife, Kelly-Anne, found out about his drug problem with the rest of the world and initially did not believe him when he left their home for rehab. “I felt it was something I got myself into and I needed to fix it myself. I thought the dream had gone and I was content with it,” Taylor said.His time at the centre in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe changed his perspective on life and also thanked his family, friends, team-mates and those in ZC for supporting him.”Then came the joys and promises of recovery, something that is very dear to me,” he said. “Getting my life back on track is the reason why I am able to be here. If I had not made that life changing decision, none of this would have been possible.”There have been some very important people in my corner, showing me a new way to live and I am eternally grateful for that. There are a few people in Zimbabwe Cricket that I have to thank, especially the chairman and the MD, who have been absolutely pivotal in their support to having me back.”Taylor opened alongside Brian Bennett in the second Test•Zimbabwe CricketThe moment of being handed his 36th Test cap, “meant the world to me. It was a moment of pure gratitude and real emotion to be welcomed back with open arms,” Taylor said. “It was not the reaction I was expecting. But it’s certainly a moment of reflection and real gratitude. It’s so rewarding to see the amount of cricket Zimbabwe Cricket is putting out there. I have trained harder than I have ever trained in my life to get back there. If performances happen, that’s great but there’s a much bigger picture here for me to play. It’s an honour to play again. It’s a debut-like feeling.”With Zimbabwe on a six-match losing streak and batting a particular problem for them, Taylor was installed at the top of the order instead of his usual No.4 role. Early on, he left well and scored his first runs as he tried to duck against a Jacob Duffy short ball which he edged over the wicket-keeper for four.Taylor will not keep wicket in this Test but said he believes he is in better shape than ever before, almost 20 kilograms lighter than he was through most of his international career and “living good, clean and healthy.”