BackZimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor scored a superb century for his country on the opening day of the first Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah.
At almost 41 years old, Taylor’s knock of 131 came eight years after his previous Test ton. But does the knock make him the oldest ever Test centurion?
While Taylor’s incredible longevity and skill have earned him a special place in modern cricket lore, he still has a way to go before making his way into this list.
Let’s take a look at the seven oldest Test centurions of all time to see how Taylor compares against the grand masters of the game.
• The knock: 142 vs Australia (Melbourne, 8 Mar 1929)
The legend: Known affectionately as “The Master,” Sir Jack Hobbs stands alone at the top of this list. Scoring a Test century against a fierce Australian bowling attack is a monumental task for any youngster, let alone a man approaching his fiftieth birthday.
This particular innings in Melbourne cemented his status as cricket’s ultimate timeless batsman. Hobbs also holds the record for the most first-class centuries in history, proving that class truly never expires.
• The knock: 132 vs Australia (Manchester, 6 Jul 1934)
The legend: Elias “Patsy” Hendren was one of the most beloved and entertaining figures of the golden era of cricket. Renowned for his quick wit and unique headwear, Hendren was deadly serious when it came to his batting.
His magnificent 132 against the old enemy, Australia, at Old Trafford proved that his sharp eyesight and masterful footwork remained completely untouched by the passage of time.
• The knock: 193* vs England (Lord’s, 26 Jun 1926)
The legend: The first Australian on our list, Warren Bardsley was a resilient opening batsman who loved nothing more than wearing down English bowling line-ups.
To score a near-double century at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s, is the stuff of dreams. To carry your bat through the entire innings and finish unbeaten on 193 at over 43 years of age is pure sporting immortality.
• The knock: 111 vs Australia (Johannesburg, 12 Nov 1921)
The legend: “Grand Old Man” Dave Nourse was the bedrock of early South African cricket. A true all-rounder who played 45 consecutive Tests for his nation, his endurance was legendary.
His grit was on full display in late 1921 in Johannesburg, when he defied a lethal Australian attack to compile a magnificent 111, securing his legacy as one of South Africa’s toughest pioneers.
• The knock: 154 vs South Africa (Manchester, 27 Jul 1929)
The legend: Frank Woolley is widely remembered as one of the most elegant, graceful left-handed batsmen to ever walk out of a pavilion. His fluid stroke-play looked entirely effortless, a trait that helped him survive decades at the crease.
In the same legendary 1929 English summer that saw Hobbs dominate, Woolley dismantled the South African bowling attack at Old Trafford with a beautiful, majestic 154.
• The knock: 114 vs England (Lord’s, 14 Jul 2016)
The legend: The only modern-era player to breach the top seven, Misbah-ul-Haq’s century at Lord’s in 2016 is iconic.
Captaining his side through turbulent times, the calm, calculated veteran celebrated his incredible hundred by dropping to the historic turf to do ten push-ups – a tribute to the military trainers who helped prepare the squad.
It proved that age is just a number, both in terms of skill and fitness.
• The knock: 236 vs England (Leeds, 26 Jul 1951)
The legend: Rounding out our list is South Africa’s fiery opening batsman, Eric Rowan. Known for his combative personality and refusal to back down from a fight, Rowan celebrated his 42nd birthday by playing the innings of his life at Headingley.
His marathon 236 remains the highest individual Test score ever recorded by a batsman over the age of 40, a masterclass in sheer mental fortitude.
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