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Top 10 Oldest Players To Score Test Centuries

Test cricket, the longest and most traditional format of the game, has witnessed several cricketers defying age to continue playing at the highest level. In modern cricket, players retiring in their late 30s is more common due to the physical demands of international cricket. However, people in the older times used to play till much later and used to bat brilliantly. This article talks about the oldest players who managed to score a century in Test cricket.

Oldest Players To Score Test Centuries

Credit: The Times

10. Tom Graveney – 41 Years 263 Days

Tom Graveney was 41 years and 263 days old when he scored his final Test cricket century. He did so in a game between Pakistan and England in March 1969. England batted first, and Graveney walked in at number three after John Edrich lost his wicket. The English star scored 105 runs in the game, and although England ultimately scored 502 runs, the game was not completed, and the match between them ended in a draw. This makes Tom Graveney one of the oldest players ever to have scored a century in a Test match.

9. Warwick Armstrong – 41 Years 265 Days

Warwick Armstrong scored his last Test century in February 1921 in the game between the England cricket team and the Australia cricket team. He managed to score a century in his first innings, scoring 123 runs in 210 balls at a strike rate of 58.57. Warwick Armstrong’s performance saw Australia take a lead of 115 runs and eventually helped the Australian cricket team win the game by a margin of eight wickets. Warwick Armstrong was 41 years and 265 days old when he managed to score this century against England, making him one of the oldest players to have scored a century in Test cricket history.

8. Bob Simpson – 41 Years 359 Days

Bob Simpson was 41 years and 359 days old when he had a spectacular showing in the 5th Test match in the game between Australia and India. Simpson managed to score a century in the first inning of the game. Bob Simpson walked in at number five and managed to score 100 runs in 200 balls at a strike rate of 50.00 to help Australia score 505 runs in the first inning. India managed only 269 runs in their first innings, and Australia added another 256 runs in their second innings. While India scored 445 runs in the final inning, the total was too high, thanks to Simpson’s performance, and Australia ended up winning the game.

7. Eric Rowan – 42 Years 6 Days

Eric Rowan was simply phenomenal for South Africa in their Test match against England in July 1951. South Africa batted first, and Rowan opened the innings for them. While his teammate, John Waite, lost his wicket cheaply, Rowan managed to score a whopping 236 runs, helping his team reach 538 runs in the first innings. England did almost equally well and managed to score 50 runs themselves, resulting in the match ending in a draw. Eric Rowan was 42 years and six days old when he managed to pull this off in an inning, making him one of the oldest centurions in Test cricket history.

6. Misbah-ul-Haq – 42 Years 47 Days

Misbah-ul-Haq was a key player for the Pakistan cricket team when they managed to beat England in the first Test match of the series in July 2016. Pakistan batted first, and Misbah-ul-Haq stepped in at number five while Pakistan was in a very precarious position. However, he managed to score 114 runs off 199 balls at a strike rate of 57.28, helping Pakistan score 339 runs in the first innings. The Pakistani star’s performance ultimately contributed to Pakistan’s victory by a margin of 75 runs. Misbah-ul-Haq was 42 years and 47 days old when he put in this performance, making him one of the oldest players to have scored a Test century.

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5. Frank Woolley – 42 Years 61 Days

Frank Woolley was 42 years and 61 days old when he managed to score a century against South Africa, helping England win the fourth Test match between the two teams, which took place in July 1929. England batted first, and Wooley walked in at number four and managed to hit 154 runs to help England reach a total of 427 runs. This score was enough for the England cricket team to bowl out South Africa twice and win by a margin of an inning and 32 runs. It was thanks to Frank Woolley’s century that England managed to get such a dominating win over South Africa.

4. Dave Nourse – 42 Years 291 Days

Dave Nourse put in a brilliant performance against the Australian cricket team while representing the South African cricket team in a Test match in November 1921. Australia managed to score 450 runs and bowled South Africa out for just 243 runs. They decided to give them a follow-on, and this time, Dave Nourse did very well, scoring 111 runs in the inning to help South Africa stay in the game and salvage a draw against Australia, despite being forced into a follow-on. This was Nourse’s last Test century, and he was 42 years and 291 days old when he achieved this feat.

3. Warren Bardsley – 43 Years 202 Days

Warren Bardsley and Tommy Andrews walking out to bat at the start of the 3rd Test of 1921 at Leeds. The white-gloved police, who were always present to ensure batsmen could make their way through the crowds, can be seen on the left pic.twitter.com/Jup5WqXSAJ

— Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) April 12, 2021

Warren Bardsley put in an incredible performance against the England cricket team in June 1926, despite being 43 years and 202 days old. The Australian cricket team batted first, and Warren Bardsley managed to score 193 runs without losing his wicket to help Australia reach a total of 383 runs. England scored 475 runs, and Australia also performed well in their second innings. However, with so many runs being scored across these innings, the match ultimately ended in a draw. This performance made Warren Bardsley the third-oldest player in Test cricket history to have scored a century.

2. Patsy Hendren – 45 Years 151 Days

Patsy Hendren is the second-oldest cricketer in Test cricket history to have scored a century, and he managed to do so when he was 45 years and 151 days old. Hendren achieved this feat in a game between England and Australia in July 1934. England batted first, and Patsy Hendren walked in at number five and scored 132 runs in 248 balls at a strike rate of 53.22 to help England score 627 runs in the first inning. While this was a fantastic inning, the match ended in a draw due to such high scores.

1. Jack Hobbs – 46 Years 82 Days

Jack Hobbs is the oldest cricketer to have ever scored a century in Test cricket history. He did this in the game against Australia in March 1929. England batted first, and Hobbs opened with Douglas Jardine. While Jardine lost his wicket quite cheaply, Jack Hobbs did brilliantly and managed to score 142 runs in 301 balls at a strike rate of 47.17 to help England score 519 runs in the first inning. While his performance helped England perform well, Australia still ended up winning the game. Jack Hobbs was 46 years and 82 days old when he managed to score this century, making it an incredible feat.

For more news articles and informative updates on various statistics about Test cricket as well as other football and cricket updates, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com.

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