Best XI Of Players Aged Over 30

Chennai Super Kings have once again proved that age is just a number and there is no substitute for experience. Before the start of the season, they had faced criticism from several quarters for picking several players who were on the wrong side of 30. While their skipper MS Dhoni was himself 36, the likes of Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh are also well over 30.

However, instead of getting bogged down by the criticism, the Super Kings went on to make that aged players their strength and win the title to shut up the critics. Led by the inspirational Dhoni, the likes of Rayudu, Watson and others did really well.

So here we are compiling a team of eleven players who are over 30 but are still the best in business:

1. Shane Watson:

The Australian allrounder recently proved his worth by playing a scintillating knock in the final of the Indian Premier League. His unbeaten 117-run knock helped Chennai Super Kings register a comfortable win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the title-decider. The former Australian allrounder bowed out of the game a couple of years ago but his recent showing in the IPL is enough to make it clear that he is still a force to reckon with.

The 36-year old represented Australia in 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is, scoring over 10,000 runs and taking close to 300 wickets.

2. Chris Gayle:

Gayle might by 38 but he is still one of the most feared batsmen in the world at the moment. The most decorated batsman in the history of T20s, he has scored over 10,000 T20 runs with the help of 21 centuries which is 14 more than the second-placed player. He scored a century in this year’s IPL too while representing Kings XI Punjab. His T20 exploits should not undermine his international stats where he has scored over 17,000 runs.

3. Hashim Amla:

Amla is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world at the moment. The 35-year recently had a brilliant outing in county cricket. The Proteas star amassed 611 runs at an average over 50 in four-day and List A matches during April and May whole representing Hampshire. He scored two centuries and four fifties for the county outfit.

Still an indispensable part of the national team, he has played 117 Tests, 164 ODIs and 43 T20Is. The right-handed batsman has so far scored over 15,000 international runs with the help of 54 centuries 82 fifties.

4. Faf du Plessis:

The South Africa skipper is one of the sought after batsmen in the world across all the three formats. His ability to play pacers and spinners with equal ease irrespective of the conditions makes him a very dangerous opponent. So far, he has amassed close to 10,000 international runs with the help of 17 tons and 46 fifties.

5. AB de Villiers:

The man needs no introduction. He recently retired from the game but that does not make him any less effective with the bat. While announcing his retirement, he made it clear that he wanted to quit while still being on top of the game and he was definitely in good form. Few days before retiring, he amassed 480 runs in the IPL with the help of 6 fifties.

One of the most decorated batsmen in the history of the game, he scored a staggering 20,014 international runs (8765 in Tests, 9577 in ODIs and 1672 in T20Is). He also finished his career with a batting average over 50 in both Tests, and ODIs.

The right-hander also holds the record for the fastest 50, fastest 100 and fastest 150 in ODIs, all coming against the Windies. He smashed a 31-ball 100 in Johannesburg in 2015 and hit a 66-ball 162 in the 2015 World Cup encounter in Sydney.

6. MS Dhoni:

MS Dhoni turned back the clocks in this year’s IPL. His reputation had taken quite a beating before the season started. However, the 36-year old once again silenced the critics in style.

The Super Kings skipper Dhoni finished the season with 455 runs to his name. In addition, he also scored three fifties while smashing 24 fours and 30 sixes. It was his best season since 2013 when he had scored 461 runs in 18 games.

7. Dwayne Bravo:

The 34-year old is one of the best allrounders in the game for quite some time now. He is the leading wicket-taker in the T20s, having taken a staggering 427 wickets. That no other bowler has managed to even cross the 350-wicket mark speaks volume of his achievement. In addition, he has also scored over 6,000 international runs and over 300 wickets.

8. Dale Steyn:

The 34-year old Proteas pacer is one of the best fast-bowlers of all time. He has played only two Tests in the last couple of years due to injuries but that does not make any less dangerous. Earlier this year, he made his comeback in the Cape Town Test against India and made an immediate impact by taking two wickets. So far, he has taken 419 Test wickets, 180 ODI wickets and 58 T20I wickets.

9.  Rangana Herath:

Unlike most of this generation’s players, Herath is not attracted by the riches of franchise cricket. Instead, he has solely focussed on representing his country in Tests and the rewards have been fruitful. The 40 -year old is still one of the best spinners going around. So far, he has taken 418 Test wickets and is the first left-arm bowler, spinner or pacer, to take 400 wickets in Tests.

10.  James Anderson:

One of the modern day greats, Anderson is still one of the best Test bowlers in the world at the moment. With 540 wickets to his name, the 35-year old is the leading wicket-taker for England in Tests. He is placed fifth in the overall list.

11. Imran Tahir:

While Tahir has not managed to make a big mark in Tests, he has made up for it with his brilliant show in limited-overs cricket. The 39-year old South African is still going strong and is looking set to give the opposition a hard time for a few years to come. So far, he has taken over 250 international wickets.