5 Oldest Cricketers To Make Their Test Debut

There is no denying the fact that Test Cricket holds the highest value among all other formats of the game. It’s the absolute pinnacle of the game. It won’t be wrong to say that Test Cricket is the toughest format to succeed as a cricketer. Not all cricketers succeed in the longest format of the game. As a cricketer, you need to have that hunger, technique, and temperament to survive in the longest format.

Having said that, not all cricketers tend to get the opportunity to play Test Cricket. Only the 0nes who have the ability and temperament to grind it out on the field for a longer period of time succeed and make a name for themselves in the Test Cricket.

Some of the special cricketers get the opportunity to represent their nation in Tests at a very young age, while there are players who make their Test debut very late in their careers. On that note, here’s a look at the five oldest cricketers to make their Test debut.

5 Oldest Cricketers To Make Their Test Debut

5. Nelson Betancourt: 42 years

Former West Indies player, Nelson Betancourt made his Test debut at the age of 42. He was a batsman who also kept wickets for his team. In the year 1930, he made his debut against England at Port of Spain and was also selected as the West Indies captain for that game.

He scored 39 and 13 in the first and second innings respectively. As it turned out, it was the only Test match he played in his career.

In his cricketing career, Nelson Betancourt played only that solitary Test, scoring 52 runs at an average of 26. He died 17 years later in 1947.

4. Hebert Ironmonger: 46 years

Herbert Ironmonger made his Test debut at the age of 46 against England on 30^th November 1928 at Brisbane. Herbert Ironmonger was an Australian bowler who made headlines very late in his career. Despite making his Test debut at the age of 46, he went on to play 14 Tests.

He picked as many as 31 wickets during the Test series against South Africa, which was also the best performance of his Test Career. Looking at his performances at such an age, experts argued that he should have played a lot earlier in his career.

Overall, Hebert Ironmonger played 14 Tests and picked 74 wickets at an average of 18.00.

3. Don Blackie: 46 years 253 days

Former Australian player, Don Blackie made his Test debut at the age of 46 years and 253 days. He holds the record of being the oldest Australian to make his debut in Tests.

He was an off-spinner who varied his pace beautifully and troubled the opposition because of that. Don Blackie played 3 Tests for his country and picked 14 wickets at an economy of 2.11 and an average of 31.7.

2. Miran Bakhsh: 47 years and 284 days

Former Pakistan cricketer, Miran Bakhsh made his Test debut at the age of 47 years and 284 days in 1955. He played his first Test against India in Lahore and is the second oldest Test debutant to date.

He played 2 Tests for Pakistan and picked 2 wickets at an average of 57.50. Even after ending his Test career, he continued playing first-class cricket. He played 15 first-class matches and picked 48 wickets at an average of 19.43.

1. James Southerton: 49 years and 119 days

James Southerton is the oldest cricketer to make his debut in Tests. He played his first Test at the age of 49 years and 119 days against Australia at Melbourne on 15^th March 1877.

In his Test cricket career, he played 2 Tests and picked 7 wickets at an average of 15.3. He enjoyed a terrific first-class career, in which he managed to pick 1682 wickets in 286 matches at an average of 14.43.

He retired fr0m all formats of the game at the age of 52. To everyone surprise, he died 10 months later and thereby became the first-ever Test cricketer to die.