Cricketers Who Made It Big Despite Making Late International Debut 

Cricket history has seen players making a debut at 16 while some had to waited awfully long to get a break in the national team. It, however, did not dampen their career as even after making late international debut there are players who went on to achieve success in their career.

Let us have a look at five such cricketers who made it big despite their late debut.

5. Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq made his debut at the age of 26. He was a late bloomer in the game. The former Pakistan batsman was known for not being heckled easily while on the crease and maintaining his composure to irritate the opposition bowlers with ease. Misbah-ul-Haq, a batsman, part-time leg-spinner, a captain continues to wear many hats for Pakistan with his present dual role as a head coach and chief selector of the national team.

Misbah-ul-Haq improvised a lot in his later years. He was known for his temperament as a batsman. After making his first-class debut in 1998, he went on to play for the Test side in 2001 and later made his maiden appearance in the ODI team in 2002.

Misbhah retired from the longest format in 2015 but continued to play limited-overs cricket till 2017. He scored more than 11000 runs in international cricket and had a successful career across formats.

4. Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal was perhaps one of the finest off-spinners Pakistan ever produced. He made his international debut at the age of 30 with an ODI match and later went on to feature in a Test series that year.

Ajmal had plenty of variations up his sleeve. He had the stock delivery which spun into right-hander and used the doosra frequently. He went on to record 178 wickets in Tests and 184 in ODIs. He was also successful in the first-class format as he picked up 578 wickets in his decorated career.

3. Allan Donald 

South Africa fast bowling legend Allan Donald made his debut with a Test match against the West Indies at the age of 26. He was lightning fast and thus nicknamed ‘white lightning’. Donald grew up the ranks to become one of the most successful fast bowlers of all-time.

He had attained the top ranking in Test cricket during his career and was only behind his new-ball partner Shaun Pollock in the ODI rankings. Even after a late start, Donald went on to pick up 330 Test wickets for South Africa and 272 scalps in the ODIs.

2. Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers had a short but credible career. He made his debut in 2008 with a Test series against India at the age of 31, when players nearly run out of gas. Rogers was an one-format player and represented Australia only in Tests.

He achieved much success as a batsman. Rogers scored 2015 runs in the longest format with the help of five centuries and 14 half-centuries. He also recorded a brilliant average of over 42.87.

1. Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey, emerged late as an international cricketer, but went to distance and had a highly successful career. For his in-depth knowledge, contribution to the sport and flawless technique, Hussey was nicknamed ‘Mr. Cricket’.

Michael Hussey made his ODI debut at the age of 28 and maiden Test appearance at 30 besides going on to play all three forms of the game. He was an old-fashioned batsman and preferred working the ball through the covers. Hussey began his career as an opener but batted in the middle-order for the national team for most part of his career.

Hussey made his ODI debut against India in 2004. He went on to score 5442 runs in the format at an average of 48.15. In Tests, he played 79 matches, scoring 6235 runs at a brilliant average of 51.52. He has also achieved the feat of scoring the fastest 1000 runs in the longest format of  the game.