Lists of oldest cricketers

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This is a set of lists of the oldest Test and first-class cricketers.

## Oldest living Test cricketers

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Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Last match  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Neil Harvey | Australia | 8 October 1928 | 22 January 1948 | 20 February 1963 | 96 years, 303 days
Trevor McMahon | New Zealand | 8 November 1929 | 13 October 1955 | 6 February 1956 | 95 years, 272 days
Wazir Mohammad | Pakistan | 22 December 1929 | 13 November 1952 | 13 November 1959 | 95 years, 228 days
C. D. Gopinath | India | 1 March 1930 | 14 March 1951 | 28 January 1960 | 95 years, 159 days
Ian Leggat | New Zealand | 7 June 1930 | 1 January 1954 | 5 January 1954 | 95 years, 61 days
Chandrakant Patankar | India | 24 November 1930 | 28 December 1955 | 2 January 1956 | 94 years, 256 days
Gavin Stevens | Australia | 29 February 1932 | 21 November 1959 | 6 February 1960 | 93 years, 160 days
Bob Blair | New Zealand | 23 June 1932 | 6 March 1953 | 13 March 1964 | 93 years, 45 days
Micky Stewart | England | 16 September 1932 | 21 June 1962 | 26 January 1964 | 92 years, 325 days
Kim Elgie | South Africa | 6 March 1933 | 8 December 1961 | 1 January 1962 | 92 years, 154 days

## Oldest living Test cricketers by country

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Country  | Player  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Afghanistan | Mohammad Nabi | 40 years, 218 days
Australia | Neil Harvey | 96 years, 303 days
Bangladesh | Enamul Haque | 59 years, 161 days
England | Micky Stewart | 92 years, 325 days
India | C. D. Gopinath | 95 years, 159 days
Ireland | Ed Joyce | 46 years, 319 days
New Zealand | Trevor McMahon | 95 years, 272 days
Pakistan  | Wazir Mohammad | 95 years, 228 days
South Africa  | Kim Elgie | 92 years, 154 days
Sri Lanka | Somachandra de Silva | 83 years, 57 days
West Indies  | Cammie Smith | 92 years, 9 days
Zimbabwe | John Traicos | 78 years, 82 days

Note: Twenty-seven first-class cricketers are known to have attained centenarian status (see relevant section below).

Source:[1]

## Oldest Test cricketers still playing at Test level

[edit]

Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Craig Ervine | Zimbabwe | 19 August 1985 | 4 August 2011 | 39 years, 353 days
Brendan Taylor | Zimbabwe | 6 February 1986 | 6 May 2004 | 39 years, 182 days
Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 24 April 1986 | 3 September 2013 | 39 years, 103 days
Sean Williams | Zimbabwe | 26 September 1986 | 20 March 2013 | 38 years, 315 days

## Oldest Test cricketers still playing at Test level, by country

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Country  | Name  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Afghanistan | Amir Hamza | 33 years, 357 days
Australia | Usman Khawaja | 38 years, 232 days
Bangladesh | Mushfiqur Rahim | 38 years, 90 days
England | Chris Woakes | 36 years, 158 days
India | Ravindra Jadeja | 36 years, 244 days
Ireland | Craig Young | 35 years, 125 days
New Zealand | Ajaz Patel | 36 years, 290 days
Pakistan | Noman Ali | 38 years, 304 days
South Africa | Dane Paterson | 36 years, 125 days
Sri Lanka | Angelo Mathews | 38 years, 66 days
West Indies | Kemar Roach | 37 years, 38 days
Zimbabwe | Craig Ervine | 39 years, 353 days

Note: The above lists include players who have played Test cricket within the past 24 months and have not formally announced their retirement.

## Longest-lived Test cricketers

[edit]

Norman Gordon of South Africa, the only Test cricketer to live to 100

See also Oldest living Test cricketers above.

Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Last match  | Date of death  | Age

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Norman Gordon | South Africa | 6 August 1911 | 24 December 1938 | 14 March 1939 | 2 September 2014 | 103 years, 27 days
Eric Tindill | New Zealand | 18 December 1910 | 26 June 1937 | 25 March 1947 | 1 August 2010 | 99 years, 226 days
Francis MacKinnon | England | 9 April 1848 | 2 January 1879 | 4 January 1879 | 27 February 1947 | 98 years, 324 days
John Watkins | South Africa | 10 April 1923 | 24 December 1949 | 5 January 1957 | 3 September 2021 | 98 years, 146 days
Ronald Draper | South Africa | 24 December 1926 | 10 February 1950 | 3 March 1950 | 25 February 2025 | 98 years, 63 days
Lindsay Tuckett | South Africa | 6 February 1919 | 7 June 1947 | 9 March 1949 | 5 September 2016 | 97 years, 212 days
Donald Smith | England | 14 June 1923 | 20 June 1957 | 27 July 1957 | 10 January 2021 | 97 years, 210 days
Jack Kerr | New Zealand | 28 December 1910 | 27 June 1931 | 27 July 1937 | 27 May 2007 | 96 years, 150 days
Wilfred Rhodes | England | 29 October 1877 | 1 June 1899 | 12 April 1930 | 8 July 1973 | 95 years, 252 days
Bill Brown | Australia | 31 July 1912 | 8 June 1934 | 29 June 1948 | 16 March 2008 | 95 years, 229 days
Lindsay Weir | New Zealand | 2 June 1908 | 24 January 1930 | 17 August 1937 | 31 October 2003 | 95 years, 151 days
Everton Weekes | West Indies | 26 February 1925 | 21 January 1948 | 31 March 1958 | 1 July 2020 | 95 years, 126 days
Datta Gaekwad | India | 27 October 1928 | 5 June 1952 | 18 January 1961 | 13 February 2024 | 95 years, 109 days
Ken Archer | Australia | 17 January 1928 | 22 December 1950 | 5 December 1951 | 14 April 2023 | 95 years, 87 days
Andy Ganteaume | West Indies | 22 January 1921 | 11 February 1948 | 16 February 1948 | 17 February 2016 | 95 years, 26 days
Sydney Barnes | England | 19 April 1873 | 13 December 1901 | 18 February 1914 | 26 December 1967 | 94 years, 251 days
Esmond Kentish | West Indies | 21 November 1916 | 27 March 1948 | 21 January 1954 | 10 June 2011 | 94 years, 201 days
M. J. Gopalan | India | 6 June 1909 | 5 January 1934 | 8 January 1934 | 21 December 2003 | 94 years, 198 days
Ron Hamence | Australia | 25 November 1915 | 28 February 1947 | 5 January 1948 | 24 March 2010 | 94 years, 119 days
Denis Begbie | South Africa | 12 December 1914 | 6 December 1948 | 6 March 1950 | 10 March 2009 | 94 years, 88 days

Source:[2][3]

## Oldest Test debutants

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James Southerton, the oldest player on debut Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Age at debut

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James Southerton | England | 16 November 1827 | 15 March 1877 | 49 years, 119 days
Miran Bakhsh | Pakistan | 20 April 1907 | 29 January 1955 | 47 years, 284 days
Don Blackie | Australia | 5 April 1882 | 14 December 1928 | 46 years, 253 days
Bert Ironmonger | Australia | 7 April 1882 | 30 November 1928 | 46 years, 237 days
Nelson Betancourt | West Indies | 4 June 1887 | 1 February 1930 | 42 years, 242 days
Rockley Wilson | England | 25 March 1879 | 25 February 1921 | 41 years, 337 days
Rustomji Jamshedji | India | 18 November 1892 | 15 December 1933 | 41 years, 27 days

## Oldest Test debutant by country

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Country  | Name  | Age at debut

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Australia | Don Blackie | 46 years, 253 days
Bangladesh | Enamul Haque | 35 years, 58 days
England | James Southerton | 49 years, 119 days
India | Rustomji Jamshedji | 41 years, 27 days
Ireland | Ed Joyce | 39 years, 232 days
New Zealand | Herb McGirr | 38 years, 101 days
Pakistan | Miran Bakhsh | 47 years, 284 days
South Africa | Omar Henry | 40 years, 295 days
Sri Lanka | Somachandra de Silva | 39 years, 251 days
West Indies | Nelson Betancourt | 42 years, 242 days
Zimbabwe | Andy Waller | 37 years, 84 days

Note: John Traicos debuted for Zimbabwe at the age of 45 years, 154 days, but had already played three Tests for South Africa 22 years prior.[4]

Note: The oldest debutant, James Southerton, was also the first Test cricketer to die (on 16 June 1880). Miran Bakhsh was known as Miran Bux during his playing career.

Source:[5]

## Oldest Test cricketers on final appearance

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Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Test Debut  | Last match  | Age at last Test

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Wilfred Rhodes | England | 29 October 1877 | 1 June 1899 | 12 April 1930 | 52 years, 165 days
Bert Ironmonger | Australia | 7 April 1882 | 30 November 1928 | 28 February 1933 | 50 years, 327 days
WG Grace | England | 18 July 1848 | 6 September 1880 | 3 June 1899 | 50 years, 320 days
George Gunn | England | 13 June 1879 | 13 December 1907 | 12 April 1930 | 50 years, 303 days
James Southerton | England | 16 November 1827 | 15 March 1877 | 4 April 1877 | 49 years, 139 days
Miran Bakhsh | Pakistan | 20 April 1907 | 29 January 1955 | 16 February 1955 | 47 years, 302 days
Sir Jack Hobbs | England | 16 December 1882 | 1 January 1908 | 22 August 1930 | 47 years, 249 days
Frank Woolley | England | 27 May 1887 | 9 August 1909 | 22 August 1934 | 47 years, 87 days
Don Blackie | Australia | 5 April 1882 | 14 December 1928 | 8 February 1929 | 46 years, 309 days
Bert Strudwick | England | 28 January 1880 | 1 January 1910 | 18 August 1926 | 46 years, 202 days

## Oldest Test cricketers on final appearance by country

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Wilfred Rhodes, England Test cricketer from 1899 until 1930 Country  | Name  | Age

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Australia | Bert Ironmonger | 50 years, 327 days
Bangladesh | Mushfiqur Rahim | 38 years, 50 days
England | Wilfred Rhodes | 52 years, 165 days
India | Vinoo Mankad | 41 years, 305 days
Ireland | Ed Joyce | 39 years, 231 days
New Zealand | Jack Alabaster | 41 years, 247 days
Pakistan | Miran Bakhsh | 47 years, 302 days
South Africa | Dave Nourse | 45 years, 207 days
Sri Lanka | Somachandra de Silva | 42 years, 78 days
West Indies | George Headley | 44 years, 236 days
Zimbabwe | John Traicos | 45 years, 304 days

Note: The Test career of Wilfred Rhodes spanned a record 30 years, 315 days. England's second-youngest Test cricketer and another Yorkshireman, Brian Close (born 24 February 1931), lies second in this regard. He made his debut against New Zealand in 1949 and was recalled, after an absence of almost nine years, to oppose West Indies in 1976 (his career lasting 26 years, 356 days).

Source:[6]

## Longest-lived first-class cricketers

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This list includes all those first-class players who are known to have lived to 100.[7]

Deceased Living

Rank  | Name  | Team(s)  | Birth date  | Death date  | Age  | Nationality

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1  | John Manners | Hampshire, Combined Services | 25 September 1914  | 7 March 2020  | 105 years, 225 days  |  England
2  | Jim Hutchinson | Derbyshire | 29 November 1896  | 7 November 2000  | 103 years, 344 days  |  England
3  | Syd Ward | Wellington | 5 August 1907  | 31 December 2010  | 103 years, 148 days  |  New Zealand
4  | Norman Gordon | South Africa, Transvaal | 6 August 1911  | 2 September 2014  | 103 years, 27 days  |  South Africa
5  | Rupert de Smidt | Western Province | 23 November 1883  | 3 August 1986  | 102 years, 253 days  |  South Africa
6  | Edward English | Hampshire | 1 January 1864  | 5 September 1966  | 102 years, 247 days  |  England
7  | Cyril Perkins | Northamptonshire, Minor Counties | 4 June 1911  | 21 November 2013  | 102 years, 170 days  |  England
8  | John Wheatley | Canterbury | 8 January 1860  | 19 April 1962  | 102 years, 101 days  |  New Zealand
9  | Archie Scott | Scotland | 26 January 1918  | 1 November 2019  | 101 years, 272 days  |  Scotland
10  | Ted Martin | Western Australia | 30 September 1902  | 9 June 2004  | 101 years, 253 days  |  Australia
11  | D. B. Deodhar | Hindus, Maharashtra | 14 January 1892  | 24 August 1993  | 101 years, 222 days  |  India
12  | George Harman | Dublin University | 6 June 1874  | 14 December 1975  | 101 years, 191 days  |  Ireland
13  | Fred Gibson | Leicestershire | 13 February 1912  | 28 June 2013  | 101 years, 135 days  |  Jamaica (lived in  England)
14  | Alan Finlayson | Eastern Province | 1 September 1900  | 28 October 2001  | 101 years, 57 days  |  South Africa
15  | Neil McCorkell | Hampshire, Players | 23 March 1912  | 28 February 2013  | 100 years, 342 days  |  England
16  | Raghunath Chandorkar | Bombay | 21 November 1920  | 3 September 2021  | 100 years, 286 days  |  India
17  | Geoffrey Beck | Oxford University | 16 June 1918  | 5 March 2019  | 100 years, 262 days  |  England
18  | Harold Stapleton | New South Wales | 7 January 1915  | 24 September 2015  | 100 years, 260 days  |  Australia
19  | Alan Burgess | Canterbury | 1 May 1920  | 5 January 2021  | 100 years, 249 days  |  New Zealand
20  | Rusi Cooper | Parsees, Bombay, Middlesex | 14 December 1922  | 31 July 2023  | 100 years, 229 days  |  India
21  | Charles Braithwaite | English Residents, Players of USA  | 10 September 1845  | 15 April 1946  | 100 years, 217 days  |  United States
22  | Harry Forsyth | Dublin University | 18 December 1903  | 19 July 2004  | 100 years, 214 days  |  Ireland
23  | Jack Laver | Tasmania | 9 March 1917  | 3 October 2017  | 100 years, 208 days  |  Australia
24  | Tom Pritchard | Wellington, Warwickshire | 10 March 1917  | 22 August 2017  | 100 years, 165 days  |  New Zealand
25  | Bernarr Notley | Nottinghamshire | 31 August 1918  | 22 January 2019  | 100 years, 144 days  |  England
26  | Vasant Raiji | Bombay, Baroda | 26 January 1920  | 13 June 2020  | 100 years, 139 days  |  India
27  | George Deane | Hampshire | 11 December 1828  | 26 February 1929  | 100 years, 77 days  |  England

Note: Although born in New South Wales, Australia, Syd Ward and John Wheatley appear to have been raised in New Zealand. George Harman, who acquired two Rugby Union caps for Ireland, died in Cornwall. Charles Braithwaite was born in England. Fred Gibson moved to England in 1944. Neil McCorkell was born in England, but lived in South Africa from 1951. The prominent Antiguan cricketer, Sir Sydney Walling, who died aged 102 years, 88 days in October 2009, never appeared in matches accorded first-class status.

The oldest person, and only septuagenarian, to play first-class cricket was Raja Maharaj Singh, aged 72, his sole appearance being for the Bombay Governor's XI against a Commonwealth XI in November 1950.[8] Thirteen players have played first-class cricket in their sixties, most of them in England in the 19th century.[9]

## Oldest women cricketers

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England women's cricketer Eileen Whelan (later Eileen Ash), born 30 October 1911, was the first female Test cricketer to attain centenarian status; she died on 3 December 2021, aged 110 years 34 days.[10]

## Oldest living ODI cricketers

[edit]

The first One-Day International took place on 5 January 1971 when Australia played England.

Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Last match  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Lance Gibbs | West Indies | 29 September 1934 | 5 September 1973 | 7 June 1975 | 90 years, 312 days
Rohan Kanhai | West Indies | 26 December 1935 | 5 September 1973 | 21 June 1975 | 89 years, 224 days
Bob Simpson | Australia | 3 February 1936 | 22 February 1978 | 12 April 1978 | 89 years, 185 days
Sir Garfield Sobers | West Indies | 28 July 1936 | 5 September 1973 | 5 September 1973 | 89 years, 10 days
Bill Lawry | Australia | 11 February 1937 | 5 January 1971 | 5 January 1971 | 88 years, 177 days
Farokh Engineer | India | 25 February 1938 | 13 July 1974 | 14 June 1975 | 87 years, 163 days
Michael Tissera | Sri Lanka | 23 March 1939 | 7 June 1975 | 14 June 1975 | 86 years, 137 days
Alan Connolly | Australia | 29 June 1939 | 5 January 1971 | 5 January 1971 | 86 years, 39 days
Ron Headley | West Indies | 29 June 1939 | 7 September 1973 | 7 September 1973 | 86 years, 39 days
Norman Gifford | England | 30 March 1940 | 24 March 1985 | 26 March 1985 | 85 years, 130 days

## Oldest living Twenty20 International cricketers

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The first Twenty20 International took place on 17 February 2005 when Australia played New Zealand.

Name  | Country  | Date of birth  | Debut  | Last match  | Age as of 7 August 2025

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Osman Göker | Turkey | 1 March 1960 | 29 August 2019 | 29 August 2019 | 65 years, 159 days
Cengiz Akyüz | Turkey | 1 June 1962 | 29 August 2019 | 29 August 2019 | 63 years, 67 days
Serdar Kansoy | Turkey | 6 July 1962 | 29 August 2019 | 31 August 2019 | 63 years, 32 days
Christian Rocca | Gibraltar | 8 March 1965 | 13 May 2022 | 14 May 2022 | 60 years, 152 days
Hasan Alta | Turkey | 25 May 1965 | 29 August 2019 | 31 August 2019 | 60 years, 74 days
James Moses | Botswana | 8 August 1965 | 20 May 2019 | 7 November 2021 | 59 years, 364 days
Mark Oman | Slovenia | 5 September 1966 | 25 July 2022 | 30 July 2022 | 58 years, 336 days
Sunil Dhaniram | Canada | 17 October 1968 | 2 August 2008 | 10 February 2010 | 56 years, 294 days
Tony Whiteman | Luxembourg | 24 May 1969 | 29 August 2019 | 5 September 2021 | 56 years, 75 days
Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 30 June 1969 | 15 June 2006 | 25 June 2011 | 56 years, 38 days

## References

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1. ^ Cricinfo: Oldest living players
2. ^ Cricinfo: Longest lived players
3. ^ Rediff: Oldest Test cricketers at the time of death
4. ^ Cricinfo: Traicos debut
5. ^ BBC Test Match Special, Ask Bearders: "Can you tell me who is the oldest cricket player to make a Test match debut"
6. ^ Cricinfo: Oldest players
7. ^ "It takes a rare cricketer to reach a century, not just make one". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
8. ^ Cricinfo: Ripe old age
9. ^ "First-Class Oldest Players". The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
10. ^ "Eileen Ash, 1911-2021". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

This article includes a sports-related list of lists.