Taibu up for the time of his life

Zimbabwe tour: Teenager ready to prove that age will be no barrier to the call to lead his country

Tatenda Taibu is 19 and within a tweaked hamstring of leading his country in a Test match at Lord's. He did not bat an eyelid, his heart did not miss a beat at the prospect.

"Captaincy isn't about age, it doesn't come with age," he said. "I have been a captain before, I would definitely be ready." Asked if he believes himself a natural leader, Taibu narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, looked suddenly taller than his 5ft 5in and said firmly and finally: "Yes." As though anybody could think any differently.

Taibu, Zimbabwe's wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman, has been appointed vice-captain on their tour of England this summer. Since the captain is Heath Streak, the chances are that sometime before the trip is done, if not for the First Test at Lord's in three weeks, the deputy will have to step in.

Streak is a fast bowler whose body has long since been feeling the strains inflicted by his craft. That is what made the selectors' choice of second in command all the more extraordinary. Taibu himself admitted to being surprised when they told him.

The captain of Zimbabwe not only has to lead a weak, inexperienced side but he must do so in the face of protests aimed at stopping the tour. Zimbabwe is a country in turmoil whose president, Robert Mugabe, has attracted the opprobrium of the world.

Taibu said: "I honestly think sport is above politics and that sport can be a unifying force. Nothing of that kind affects me because I am concentrating only on cricket. That is what I want to do. People demonstrate. I respect the way they want their views to be heard. I just hope they respect our right to play cricket." This was the party line but he said it with a conviction and composure belying his years.

His assurance and his presence are not as surprising as they would be. Taibu has already been around the block a few times. His father, a businessman in a Harare barber shop, died of liver disease in 1995, his mother of cancer in 2001. Somehow, it made easier to cope with the demands of being called into the national squad at the age of 16. "When my parents passed away everything affected me," he said. "But the way they brought me up was to be tough. I think I took it well. As a family we did well together, we kept together."

Taibu has three brothers and three sisters and still lives with one of them in Harare. He was the first member of his family to play any sport and was encouraged from the outset.

He began playing at primary school (two other pupils of Chipenberi junior are with the Zimbabweans on this tour) and swiftly graduated through the ranks. "I remember when my friend and I first went along I saw the coaches and said to my friend that they were not bowling at me and I walked away. He ran after me and when I went back the man taking the beginners asked me what I was doing there because he could do nothing for me because he said I had good hands and moved my feet well."

The wicketkeeping career started with similar reluctance. After agreeing to stand in as a last-minute replacement in a match when he was 14 it was clear he was a natural. He was also reluctant. But the man in charge was Bill Flower, father of Andy and Grant. He ensured that Andy gave the boy some gloves and pads. The effect was instant. Taibu wanted to be a keeper. "I love it, I can't do without it," he said.

He was first selected for a Zimbabwean squad when Andy Flower, his mentor, was injured in the West Indies. He then came to England on Zimbabwe's first full tour in 2000. Observers knew that he had something when he went out for his first innings against Hampshire. His first scoring shot was a beautiful, front-foot extra cover drive for four.

He almost made the Test team after Flower lost his form behind the stumps. But eventually, it was felt that it was too soon. He had to bide his time waiting for Flower's place but eventually the great man surrendered the gloves. Taibu has now played 32 one-dayers and six Tests.

Taibu is not by a long chalk the complete cricketer yet, as three spilled catches in the recent World Cup in South Africa demonstrated. But in a team who look destined to struggle he should make a mark. If he has to lead it will be from the front.

He is a noisy keeper, always talking, enthusing his colleagues, bouncy, probably irritating the opposition to distraction. He is an involved captain as he demonstrated in the Under-19 World Cup last year. He became the player of the tournament after scoring 250 runs at an average of 50, holding seven catches and making one stumping and taking 12 wickets at 10.75. In tight situations he unbuckled his pads and came on to bowl his medium-pace away swingers. "I had faith in myself to take care of the situation," he said.

"I said to myself that it would be wonderful for one of us to be the player of the competition, to take something back to the country. Zimbabwe have not won much."

He has given up bowling now for good. He intends in future to be simply wicketkeeper, batsman and captain, if not this summer, then soon. "I see myself as the engine of the side, trying to bring the best out of each player, to bring the best out of myself."

Without wishing any harm to Streak at all, you almost wish that he could tweak a muscle, just to see how Tatenda would cope.