As a career, cricket generally seems to have a very short period of time, and there is a general perception that one’s career cannot be prolonged after certain years. Most of the players retire in their mid-30s or late 30s. However, there have been quite a few players who have represented their country on the international stage during their 50s and late 40s. This article looks at some of the oldest players to play for Australia in Test cricket.
1. Bert Ironmonger (50 Years And 327 Days)
Bert Ironmonger was a left-arm orthodox bowler born in Queensland. He made his debut in 1928 when he was 45, the fourth oldest player to debut in Test cricket. Bert took 74 wickets in 14 Test matches and retired in 1933 at the age of 50 years and 327 days, the second oldest to play in international Test cricket.
2. Don Blackie (46 Years And 309 Days)
Next on the list is Don Blackie, a right-arm off-break bowler from Victoria. Blackie made his debut in Test cricket in 1928 against England at Sydney. He took 14 wickets in the three Tests he played at an average of 31.71. He was 46 when he played his last Test match in 1929 against England.
3. Clarrie Grimmett (44 Years And 69 Days)
Clarrie Grimmett was a right-arm leg break bowler born in Otago, New Zealand. In 1925, he made his Test debut against England at Sydney. He took 216 wickets in 37 Test matches at an impressive average of 24.21, with 21 five-wicket hauls and seven ten-wicket hauls to his name. He retired in 1936 at the age of 44 after playing his last Test against South Africa.
4. Hanson Carter (43 Years And 259 Days)
Hanson Carter was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter born in Yorkshire, England. Carter played his first Test in 1907 against England at Sydney. He made 873 runs in 28 Test matches and retired in 1921 after playing his last Test against South Africa. He was 43 years and 259 days old when he played his final Test.
5. Warren Bardsley (43 Years And 255 Days)
Next, we have Warren Bardsley, one of Australia’s most prolific left-handed batters. Warren scored more than 17,000 runs in his first-class career and made his international debut in 1909 against England at Birmingham. He scored 2469 runs in his 41-Test match career at an average of 40.47. In 1926, he retired from Test cricket at the age of 43.
6. Charles Kelleway (42 Years And 224 Days)
Charles Kelleway was one of Australia’s most successful all-rounders in the 1910s and 1920s. He was a right-handed batter and used to bowl right-arm fast medium. He made his Test debut in 1910 and scored 1422 runs in 26 Tests and took 52 wickets. In 1928, at the age of 42, he announced his retirement from international cricket.
7. Bert Oldfield (42 Years And 175 Days)
Bert Oldfield was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter born in New South Wales. He made his debut in Test cricket in 1920 against England at Sydney. He scored 1427 runs in 54 Test matches at an average of 22.65. In 1937, he retired at the age of 42 years and 175 days.
8. Syd Gregory (42 Years And 130 Days)
Syd Gregory is a former right-handed middle-order batter born in Sydney, New South Wales. Bert scored more than 15,000 first-class runs and 2,282 runs in 58 international Test matches. He became Australia’s third-oldest captain in 1912, when he was 42. In 1912, he played his last Test match against England at The Oval.
9. Bob Simpson (42 Years And 89 Days)
Bob Simpson was one of Australia’s most prolific all-rounders in the 1960s and 1970s. He played as a right-handed batter and was a right-arm leg break bowler. He scored 4869 runs in 623 Tests at an average of 46.81 and took 71 wickets. In 1978, he retired at the age of 42 after playing his last match against the West Indies at Kingston.
10. Warwick Armstrong (42 Years And 86 Days)
The last player to feature on the list is Warwick Armstrong, a heavily built and hugely charismatic all-rounder. He was born in Victoria and was a right-handed batter and a right-arm fast bowler. Armstrong scored 2863 runs in 50 Tests and took 87 wickets. He retired in 1921 when he was 42 years and 86 days old.
