Forever young

Famous players at the age of 25

Jan, 2015

<b>Imran Khan:</B> The year he turned 25, Imran took 12 for 165 in Sydney, a Test that triggered Pakistan's rise and Imran's transformation into a pace spearhead. Not that it excuses the bob-cut hair.

Imran Khan: The year he turned 25, Imran took 12 for 165 in Sydney, a Test that triggered Pakistan's rise and Imran's transformation into a pace spearhead. Not that it excuses the bob-cut hair. •Patrick Eagar/Getty Images

<b>Kapil Dev:</b> Young World Cup-winning captains are allowed to swagger, aren't they?
So what if they're wearing polyester while doing so.

Kapil Dev: Young World Cup-winning captains are allowed to swagger, aren't they? So what if they're wearing polyester while doing so. •Getty Images

<b>Muttiah Muralitharan:</b> Murali's Test match wicket hauls between April 1997, when he turned 25, and April 1998 were numbers to behold: 6, 8, 8, 2, 7, 3, 0, 12, 5, 8, 8.

Muttiah Muralitharan: Murali's Test match wicket hauls between April 1997, when he turned 25, and April 1998 were numbers to behold: 6, 8, 8, 2, 7, 3, 0, 12, 5, 8, 8. •David Munden/Getty Images

<b>Geoff Boycott:</B> Has Boycs aged gracefully, not at all, or was he always an old soul? Cricket-wise, he started as he meant to go on: by the time he was 25, he averaged 43, with two hundreds, a year into his Test career.

Geoff Boycott: Has Boycs aged gracefully, not at all, or was he always an old soul? Cricket-wise, he started as he meant to go on: by the time he was 25, he averaged 43, with two hundreds, a year into his Test career. •Don Morley/PA Photos

<b>Brian Lara:</b> A month before his 25th birthday, Lara broke the record for the highest Test score, scoring 375 against England in Antigua. A month after it, he made the highest first-class score, 501 not out, against Durham.

Brian Lara: A month before his 25th birthday, Lara broke the record for the highest Test score, scoring 375 against England in Antigua. A month after it, he made the highest first-class score, 501 not out, against Durham. •Graham Chadwick/PA Photos

$<b>Dennis Lillee:</b> In July 1974, Lillee had been out of international cricket for over 12 months, having fractured his spine the previous year. People thought he was finished, but he underwent intensive physiotherapy and returned a far better - if not as fast - bowler, who took 304 wickets at 23.88.$

Dennis Lillee: In July 1974, Lillee had been out of international cricket for over 12 months, having fractured his spine the previous year. People thought he was finished, but he underwent intensive physiotherapy and returned a far better - if not as fast - bowler, who took 304 wickets at 23.88.•PA Photos

<b>Viv Richards:</B> In 1976, the year before he turned 25, Richards averaged 90 in Tests. He had already starred in a winning World Cup campaign and would soon go on to score a hundred in another final.

Viv Richards: In 1976, the year before he turned 25, Richards averaged 90 in Tests. He had already starred in a winning World Cup campaign and would soon go on to score a hundred in another final. •Bob Thomas/Getty Images

<b>Sachin Tendulkar:</B> Still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Tendulkar was a veteran of 61 Tests and 187 ODIs on the eve of his 25th. He marked the occasion with a truly special performance: a 131-ball 134 to beat Australia in an ODI final in Sharjah.

Sachin Tendulkar: Still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Tendulkar was a veteran of 61 Tests and 187 ODIs on the eve of his 25th. He marked the occasion with a truly special performance: a 131-ball 134 to beat Australia in an ODI final in Sharjah. •Tony Marshall/PA Photos

<b>Shane Warne:</b> In 1994, Warne was 25 and golden all over: 18 wickets in three Tests in Pakistan, a career-best 8 for 71 in the Ashes Test in Brisbane, and his first hat-trick in
the match after, at the MCG.

Shane Warne: In 1994, Warne was 25 and golden all over: 18 wickets in three Tests in Pakistan, a career-best 8 for 71 in the Ashes Test in Brisbane, and his first hat-trick in the match after, at the MCG. •Ben Radford/Getty Images

<b>Don Bradman:</B> The Don turned 25 in August 1933, by which time he had already scored five Test double-hundreds and a triple, and faced Bodyline. Before his 26th birthday, he added another triple and double to his tally.

Don Bradman: The Don turned 25 in August 1933, by which time he had already scored five Test double-hundreds and a triple, and faced Bodyline. Before his 26th birthday, he added another triple and double to his tally. •PA Photos

<b>Ian Botham:</b> How old was Beefy when he turned in the greatest performance in England's Ashes history? You guessed it.

Ian Botham: How old was Beefy when he turned in the greatest performance in England's Ashes history? You guessed it. •Adrian Murrell/Getty Images