The saga of oldest players in Test Cricket and ODIs

SAMPATH BANDARA

The oldest cricketer to play Test cricket was Wilfred Rhodes who was 52 years and 165 days old when he played for England against West Indies in Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica on 3rd April 1930.

This was the first Test match in Jamaica and last one for Rhodes. It was the second longest Test of all time and established a few records (all subsequently broken) the longest match (nine days), highest total (849), highest individual score (325 by A. Sandham) and match aggregate (1815).

Also making his final appearance was the oldest Test player (Wilfred Rhodes) as well as third oldest Test player, George Gunn (50 years and 303 days).

There are two other Test cricketers who played their last Tests when they were over 50 years of age.

H. Ironmonger, Australia vs England, Sydney in 1932/33 (50 years and 327 days and W.G. Grace, England vs Australia, Nottingham in 1899 (50 years and 320 days). Jack Hobbs was the oldest man to score a Test century in 1928.

He scored 142 in 235 balls on the first day of the fifth Test between England and Australia at MCG, Melbourne. At 46 years and 82 days a record which is unlikely ever to be broken. England lost the match but won the series 4-1. Hobbs scored 451 runs at an average of 50.11 in the series, an excellent performance for that age.

W.G. Grace became the oldest captain in Test cricket. He was 50 years and 320 days old when he played for England against Australia at Nottingham on 1st June 1899. He was 48 years old when he captained England in 1896 at the Oval, vs Australia. He led England in 13 Tests.

Herbert Ironmonger (1881-1971) took a match bag of 11 wickets for only 24 runs for Australia vs South Africa at Melbourne in 1931 when he was 49 years and 314 days old.

Ironmonger was a left-arm medium pace bowler. The only Australian to play Test cricket when past the age of 50 and he was at 45 years 237 days, the fourth oldest cricketer to make his Test debut.

Wilfred Rhodes (1877-1973), born on October 29, 1877 in Yorkshire, slow left arm bowler. He made his Test debut at Trent Bridge in 1899. It was W.G. Grace’s farewell Test.

Wilfred Rhodes took more First Class wickets than anyone else. He also has a total of 4,204 wickets at an average of 16.72, easily the world record. That is never likely to be broken. He took 100 or more wickets 23 times and 200 wickets three times. He achieved the double (1,000 runs and 100 wickets) in 16 seasons for Yorkshire.

He played in a total of 58 Test matches taking 127 wickets (Ave. 26.96) and scored 2,325 (Ave. 30.19) runs. His stand of 323 with Jack Hobbs in 1911 was the highest first wicket partnership for England.

Wilfred Rhodes played Test cricket in 1899 (Nottingham) to 1929/30 (Kingston) for 30 years and 315 days. The longest career of all time - another world record. He lost his sight at the end of the Second World War.

William Gilbert Grace can be described as a legend of the game with his big beard and well-built frame.

Born on August 18, 1848 in Bristol as the second youngest of five brothers. His brothers, E.M, G.F. and Henry all played First Class cricket for Gloucestershire. W.G, E.M and G.F. all three played together in one Test.

In his First Class career he was the first player to score 20,000 runs, first to score 100 centuries and first player to take 2,000 wickets.

Played first Test in 1880 in England, he hit 152 at the Oval - the first Test match played in England. W.G. Grace played First Class cricket till 1908, when he was 60 years old with an amazing career 54,896 runs (Ave. 39.55), 126 centuries, 2,876 wickets and 872 catches.

He played his farewell Test in 1899 when he was 50 years and 320 days old.

One Day Internationals

The oldest cricketer to take part in a One-Day International was N.E. Clarke of Netherlands who was 47 years and 256 days old when he played against South Africa at Rawalpindi on March 5, 1996.

Clarke opened the batting for Netherlands and scored 32 runs from 46 balls with four fours and a six in this match. He was also the oldest player to make his debut in ODI. He was 47 years and 240 days when he played against New Zealand in Vadodara in the same World Cup tournament. N. Gifford (England) is in second place, 44 years and 359 days when he played vs Australia at Sharjah on 24th March 1985.

D.S. De Silva was the oldest player in ODI for Sri Lanka.

He was 42 years and 261 days old when he played against West Indies at Melbourne on 27th February 1985. M.H. Tissera was 36 years and 83 days old on his debut ODI vs West Indies at Manchester (7th June 1975). Sanath Jayasuriya (39 years and 212 days) became the oldest century maker in one day cricket recently.