Age plays a crucial role in the gentlemen’s game, especially in its longest format. Attributes ranging from endurance, stamina to agility and the ability to concentrate for longer hours under taxing conditions are often supposedly impaired by age.
It is safe to say that age does take a toll on a cricketer in maintaining these vital aspects of performance. However, going against the tide, some individuals have defied the odds. These personalities have proved that age is just a number and certainly not a hindrance to follow your dreams, passions and reach your goals.
This series of articles previously brought you the youngest players to represent their countries in international Tests, ODIs, World Cups and T20s
The oldest ever cricketer to appear in a Test match was Wilfred Rhodes of England. When he played his final game against West Indies at Kingston in 1930, he was 52 years and 165 days old.
Bert Ironmonger is second on the list, the Australian was 50 years and 327 years old when he played against England at Sydney in 1933.
However, James Southerton is the oldest ever debutant in Test cricket. He appeared in the first ever Test match between Australia and England in 187. He was 49 years and 119 days old.
At 39 years, Rangana Herath is the oldest Test cricketer, still playing at the highest level.
The oldest to play a Test for Sri Lanka was former captain D.S. de Silva (42y 78d). His final appearance was against England at Lord’s in 1984. He was also the oldest debutant for Sri Lanka at the age of 39 years and 251 days. He made his debut in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Test in 1982.
At 46 years and 82 days, Jack Hobbs is the oldest to score a Test century. His 142 run knock came against Australia at Melbourne in 1929. Arguably cricket’s most prolific batsman, Hobbs made 61,237 first class runs with 197 centuries, the most by a batsman in history. Hobbs was also the first ever professional cricketer to be knighted.
South African batsman Dave Nourse is the oldest to score a maiden hundred. He was 42 years and 291 days when he made 111 against Australia at Johannesburg in 1921.
Adam Voges is the oldest Test centurion on debut. He made his debut against West Indies at Roseau in 2015 at the age of 35 years and 243 days.
In 2016 at Lord’s, Misbah ul-Haq made an elegant 114, in an eventual victory for Pakistan. He remains the oldest captain to score a century (42y 47d).
Misbah ul-Haq (40y 158d) is also the oldest to score twin hundreds in a Test match. He made 101 and 101* against Australia at Abu Dhabi in 2014. In the same match, he broke the record for the fastest century in Test cricket.
Eric Rowan of South Africa (42y 6d) is the oldest player to score a double century in Test cricket. His 236 runs came against England at Headingly in 1951. Like old wine, Kumar Sangakkara’s tale narrated a career which became finer with age. He is the oldest (37y 58d) double centurion for Sri Lanka. Sanga’s final double ton came against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in early 2015.
The first triple centurion in Test cricket is also the oldest to achieve that feat. Andy Sandham (39y 272d) made 325 for England against West Indies in Kingston in 1930. It was his final Test match as well.
Only two other players have scored a triple century after turning 35. Kumar Sangakkara made 319 against Bangladesh in 2014 when he was 36 years and 100 days. Graham Gooch was 37 years and 3 days when he stockpiled 333 against India at Lord’s in 1990. In the same Test he made 123 in the second essay, becoming the highest run scorer in a single Test match.
Bert Ironmonger holds many bowling records as the oldest player to achieve them. Against South Africa at Melbourne in 1932, Ironmonger (49y 311d) captured 6 for 18 becoming the oldest to take a 5 wicket haul in Test cricket. In the same Test, he went on to take an astounding 5 for 6 in the second innings, a staggering 11 for 24, the oldest to take a 10 wicket haul in Test cricket. Ironmonger is also the oldest to take a maiden five wicket haul. He was 48 years and 312 days when he claimed 7 for 23 against West Indies at Melbourne in 1931.
The oldest to take a 5 wicket haul for Sri Lanka was D.S. De Silva (39y 276d). His 5 for 59 against Pakistan at Faisalabad in 1982, was also the first five wicket haul by a Sri Lankan in Test cricket.
The oldest to take a five wicket haul on debut was Englishman Charles Marriott. The leg spinner took with 5 for 37 and 6 for 59 against West Indies at The Oval in 1933.
The oldest to take a hat trick was Tom Goddard of England. He was 38 years and 86 days when he achieved the feat against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1938.
Against Australia at The Oval in 1926, Bert Strudwick of England became the oldest wicketkeeper at 46 years and 198 days.
Known as the ‘Father of Cricket’, veteran W.G. Grace is the oldest ever captain in Test cricket (50y 320d). Australian Warren Bardsley was the oldest on captaincy debut (43y 216d). His debut was against England at Leeds in 1926. However, the oldest to captain a side on his Test debut was West Indian Nelson Betancourt (43y 233d). His debut came against England at Port of Spain in 1930.
Replacing injured Duleep Mendis, Somachandra de Silva made his captaincy debut against New Zealand at Wellington in 1983. D.S. de Silva was 40 years and 277 days at the time. Known for his nifty leg spin, he remained the only specialist bowler to captain Sri Lanka in Tests until Rangana Herath in 2017.
