Oldest Cricketers From 5 Nations To Play International Cricket

Oldest Cricketers to make their appearance in international cricket, from five major nations in cricket i.e. India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and West Indies. All of these nations have won the title of World Cup at least once and the highest is held by the mighty Australia leading with 6 ODI World Cup titles.

Oldest Test Cricketers on their final appearance

 

Vinoo Mankad From India- The former captain of the Indian Cricket team who was a right-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler being the first superstar all-rounder of India before Kapil Dev.

He represented India in the Test cricket oldest at the age of 41 years, 305 days. He is popularly known as the man who induced Mankad to run out. The controversy happened in the India tour of Australia in which Vinoo Mankad hit the bails while he was about to bowl as Billy Brown on the non-striker end came out of the crease before the bowler bowled.

Vinoo Mankad did the same with Brown earlier also but after this controversial run-out dismissal Australian media was not happy with the outcome and called it ‘Mankading’ an act of against the spirit of the game.
Although the famous cricketer Don Bradman of Australia known for his outstanding average of 99 in Tests called it a fair act which was under the laws of cricket Mankad just did what was right by the laws of cricket.

Vinoo Mankad in Test cricket is known for playing one of the highest opening partnerships with Pankaj Roy of 413 runs in 1956 which was unbroken till 52 years. He played 44 tests for India and made 2109 runs at an average of 31.47 including five Test centuries with a highest individual score of 231. He also took 162 wickets with an average of 32.32, including eight five-wicket hauls.

Wilfred Rhodes from England represented his country in Test cricket oldest at the age of 52 years, 165 days. He was an English cricketer who played 58 matches for England taking 127 wickets at an average of 26.96 and making 2325 runs with an average of 30.19.

He became the first English cricketer to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in Test matches. He made 2 centuries and eleven half-centuries whereas in bowling he achieved a five-wicket haul 6 times and a career-best figure of 8 wickets with an expense of 68 runs.

Rhodes played for Yorkshire in first-class cricket, making a total of 39,969 runs at an average of 30.81 in 1110 matches, and picked up 4,204 wickets with an average of 16.72.

Bert Ironmonger from Australia, being the oldest Aussie cricketer to play international cricket at the age of 50 years, and 327 days. He made his test debut in 1928 at the age of 46 which makes him the fourth oldest player to make a debut in Test cricket.

Bert Ironmonger, a seasoned veteran, made history multiple times in his later years. He not only became the oldest cricketer to claim his first five-wicket haul, six-wicket haul, and seven-wicket haul in a Test match, but he also set the record for the oldest player to achieve a ten-wicket haul in a match.

In his career span of 14 matches, he managed to take 74 wickets at an average of 17.97. Ironmonger’s remarkable feats defied age and showcased his enduring skill and passion for the game.

George Alphonso Headley from West Indies, was the oldest cricketer at the age of 44 years and 236 days to represent his nation, in international cricket. At the time of his playing for West Indies, the national team was weak as compared to other nations worldwide. The right-handed batsman came to bat at no. 3 to build up an inning.

There was a lot of weight on his shoulders to carry the team from one end making a total of 2,120 runs in the test with an impressive average of 60.83 including 10 centuries and 5 half-centuries. He was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1934.

Miran Baksh, is a Pakistani cricketer who played international cricket till the age of 47 years and 302 days, making him the oldest to represent his nation. He made his debut in 1955 against India at Lahore at the age of 47 years and 278 days.

In the two matches of his career, he took 2 wickets for Pakistan, bowling a total of just 348 balls altogether in his entire career. He continued to play first-class cricket in Pakistan till the age of 53 years old and achieved his best bowling figures in a match for Combined Services at Dacca in 1956/57 when he took 6 for 15 to help dismiss East Pakistan Whites for 33 runs

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