5 Successful Cricketers Who Made Test Debut After The Age Of 30

Cricketers making their debut on or after 30 years is a big no-no in modern-day cricket. These days players get drafted into the senior team soon after their U-19 stint if they have the right potential. Virat Kohli is an example of the same wherein he was selected into the Indian senior team right after his U-19 success. 30 is considered to be an age where cricketers are at the peak of their careers and in the pink of their health.

However, there have been cricketers who have started their international career after the age of 30 and have went onto becoming matchwinners for their respective teams. Australian cricket has given many such examples where they have roped in players after 30 and used the maximum of their potential. In this article, we list down five cricketers who made their Test debut after 30 and became famous.

5 Successful Cricketers Who Made Test Debut After The Age Of 30

5) Vijay Hazare

The former Indian cricketer made his Test debut after 31 and went on play seven seasons before he called his retirement in 1953. He led India to their first Test win against England in the year 1951-1952 at Madras. He scored a century in both innings against Australia at Adelaide in the year 1947-1948.

Hazare played 30 Tests and scored 2192 runs in 52 innings at an average of 47.65, with seven centuries and nine fifties.

Also Read: Most Runs Scored On Test Debut As An Opener

4) Ryan Harris

Former Aussie pacer Ryan Harris made Test debut as late as 31 but went onto become of of the country’s best bowlers. He was one of the key figures behind Australia’s 2013 Ashes win. He bagged 24 wickets at an average of 19.58 in the series. he then took 22 wickets when Australia defended the Ashes series in the 2013-14 season.

Harris’s career was marred by injuries that prevented him from having a long run in the international circuit. He was troubled by a long-standing knee injury forcing him to retire in 2015. In 27 Test matches, Harris took 113 wickets at an average of 23.52.

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3) Chris Rogers

Rogers is another example of cricketers who made their Test debut after 30 years. He made his Test debut against India in 2008 but went into oblivion soon after that. He made a return to the format in 2013.

Rogers played a key role for Australia with the bat in the Ashes series at home and away in 2013. In 25 Tests, Rogers scored 2015 runs at an impressive average of 42. 87 with 5 hundreds and 14 half-centuries aging 35.

2) Saeed Ajmal

Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal made his Test debut at 32 and picked 50 wickets in his very first season in 2011. Overall, he bagged Ajmal has bagged 178 wickets at an average of 28.10 with 10 fifers ad four 10-wicket hauls.

Ajmal picked 182 wickets in ODIs. Throughout his career, his bowling action was questioned time and again. He was banned with suspect bowling action in 2014 and the bowler called time on his career in 2015 as he had lost his skill to get wickets with his remodeled action.

1) Michael Hussey

Probably, the most important name on this list by his sheer contribution to Australian cricket throughout his career. Michael Hussey had a distinguished Test career making his debut in 2005 just days after his 30th birthday.

He played alongside the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clake in the batting order and became one of the pillars. He played 79 Tests scoring 6235 runs at an impressive average of 51.52 with 19 hundreds. In 185 ODIs, Hussey scored 5442 runs at an impressive average of 48.15. Hussey won the 2007 World Cup with the Aussie side as well.

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