Commuter is stumped after leaving for work and finding a drunk international cricketer asleep in his car
- Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor found sleeping in stranger's car
- Michael Whitaker discovered the sportsman in his Chevrolet Matiz
- Clambered into car after celebrating win with Nottinghamshire teammates
- Police were called but concluded no criminal offence had been committed
Former Zimbabwe cricketer Brendan Taylor was found asleep in the back of a car in Nottingham
International sportsmen are more normally found staying in some of the best hotels.
So, former Zimbabwe cricket captain, Brendan Taylor, raised a few eyebrows with his choice of bed for the night.
The 29-year-old, who now plays for Nottinghamshire, was discovered curled up on the backseat of a shocked commuter's car.
Taylor climbed into the Chevrolet Matiz in the early hours to sleep off the effects of a heavy night of drinking.
The dazed sportsman was woken up by police after the vehicle's owner, Michael Whitaker, made the bizarre discovery as he was leaving for work just before 9am.
Taylor, who had been part of the Nottinghamshire side that had qualified for the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-finals the night before by beating Durham at Trent Bridge, told officers he had been out celebrating - and taken shelter in the unlocked blue hatchback after getting lost in pouring rain.
The embarrassed cricketer apologised to Mr Whitaker and offered to get the car valeted after being found on Wednesday morning.
He was given help getting home after the police decided no offence had been committed.
The 45-year-old business development manager and father-of-two, said: 'I had to do a double-take when I opened the door.
'I did not know what to do. Someone I didn't know had fallen asleep in our car.'
Mr Whitaker called the police before hiding around the corner to await their arrival.
'An officer tried to wake him up and when he came round, he was dazed,' he said.
'It was the most bizarre situation I think I have ever been in.
'Neither myself, the police or Brendan knew what to do.
'I don't think he knew where he was but he was very apologetic and it quickly became clear that it was very innocent.
'Realising who it was made it even funnier because how often do you find an international cricket star asleep in your car?
'We just see the funny side of this now. It was one of the best excuses to be late for work ever.'
Brendan Taylor, pictured in action for Nottinghamshire, had been out celebrating a victory with his teammates when he got lost and took shelter in the vehicle
Michael Whitaker tweeted the cricketer to say there were 'no hard feelings' after finding him asleep in his car
The car, which Mr Whitaker said was unlocked 'on this one rare occasion', was not damaged during the player's stay and officers helped him to his home nearby.
After the incident he tweeted the sports star: 'brendan, good to meet you on quayside close this morning. No hard feelings :-).'
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: 'We attended the scene but concluded that no offence had been committed. The man in the car was extremely apologetic and even offered to get the car valeted.'
A spokesman for the cricket club did not wish to comment on the incident.
Taylor, a batsmen and part-time wicket-keeper who played in 23 test matches and 167 one-day international for Zimbabwe, also declined to comment.
The international cricketer was found sleeping off his hangover inside Mr Whitaker's Chevrolet Matiz parked in Quayside Close, Nottinghamshire
He didn't bat against Durham, but tweeted after the game: 'Today was my most satisfying time at @TrentBridge so far. A real hard team effort by a great bunch guys. Great times ahead.'
News of Taylor's unusual choice of bed for the night quickly spread on social media.
Cricket fan Eddie Munsta posted on Twitter: 'Nice result for Brendan Taylor finding an unlocked car to sleep in. I usually end up in the gutter, park bench, tube station doorway. #drunk'
Lydia Jane said: 'Just read the Brendan Taylor thing ... B****y hilarious!'
Others branded Taylor their favourite cricketer and their 'hero,' for his late night antics.
Brendan Taylor tweeted that the victory was his most 'satisfying time at Trent Bridge' ahead of the night out
Cricket fans were quick to comment on social media on Taylor's unusual choice of bed for the evening
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