Age will not weary them
Cricinfo looks back at XI players who stood the test of time
Will Luke and Martin Williamson
11-Dec-2008
Earlier this week Michael Clarke expressed his concern that a gruelling modern schedule might curtail players' careers. Cricinfo looks back at those who weren't condemned by the years
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Wilfred Rhodes
One of two Yorkshiremen in our XI and the most doughty of the lot. Rhodes' international career spanned a remarkable 31 years: his first Test was against Australia in 1899, his last under Freddie Calthorpe in 1930. His statistics are etched into the minds of anoraks: a shade under 40,000 first-class runs, and a wicket-tally (4204) to leave modern allrounders in awe. His return in 1926, aged 49, was instrumental in England beating Australia - he took 6 for 79. He played his last Test aged 53 in the 1930 series against West Indies. To further emphasise his greatness: he even batted at every position from No.1 to 11 - on merit.
One of two Yorkshiremen in our XI and the most doughty of the lot. Rhodes' international career spanned a remarkable 31 years: his first Test was against Australia in 1899, his last under Freddie Calthorpe in 1930. His statistics are etched into the minds of anoraks: a shade under 40,000 first-class runs, and a wicket-tally (4204) to leave modern allrounders in awe. His return in 1926, aged 49, was instrumental in England beating Australia - he took 6 for 79. He played his last Test aged 53 in the 1930 series against West Indies. To further emphasise his greatness: he even batted at every position from No.1 to 11 - on merit.
Bill Ashdown
Ashdown's career spanned 34 seasons, although ten of those were lost to two World Wars - he became a Trivial Pursuit question as the only man who played first-class cricket before the Great War and after the Second World War. He made his debut as a 15-year-old in June 1914, and his final outing was in 1947, after a ten-year absence, when he scored 42 and 40 and took 5 for 73 in a festival game at Harrogate. The following season he became a first-class umpire, standing in three Tests in 1949 and 1950, before stepping down to resume his playing career as captain of Leicestershire 2nd XI until he was 55, doubling up as their coach and scorer.
Ashdown's career spanned 34 seasons, although ten of those were lost to two World Wars - he became a Trivial Pursuit question as the only man who played first-class cricket before the Great War and after the Second World War. He made his debut as a 15-year-old in June 1914, and his final outing was in 1947, after a ten-year absence, when he scored 42 and 40 and took 5 for 73 in a festival game at Harrogate. The following season he became a first-class umpire, standing in three Tests in 1949 and 1950, before stepping down to resume his playing career as captain of Leicestershire 2nd XI until he was 55, doubling up as their coach and scorer.
George Headley
The Black Bradman, as he was known in the Caribbean, was West Indies' first world-class batsman. In 1928 he made 211 against Lionel Tennyson's XI in his second first-class game, and as a 21-year-old in 1930 he scored 176 against England in his and his country's first Test, In 19 Tests before World War Two he averaged 66.71; Wisden noted he "did not have one bad series". He lost his best years to the war and by the time West Indies resumed playing he was almost 40. He played little after the war, but such was his status that he was recalled three times, with no success, the last in 1953-54 in what was his penultimate appearance. He was almost lost to the game as a teenager, but a delay in getting a visa to travel to the USA to study dentistry allowed him to make his first-class debut, and after a sparkling 71 he decided to stay and play.
The Black Bradman, as he was known in the Caribbean, was West Indies' first world-class batsman. In 1928 he made 211 against Lionel Tennyson's XI in his second first-class game, and as a 21-year-old in 1930 he scored 176 against England in his and his country's first Test, In 19 Tests before World War Two he averaged 66.71; Wisden noted he "did not have one bad series". He lost his best years to the war and by the time West Indies resumed playing he was almost 40. He played little after the war, but such was his status that he was recalled three times, with no success, the last in 1953-54 in what was his penultimate appearance. He was almost lost to the game as a teenager, but a delay in getting a visa to travel to the USA to study dentistry allowed him to make his first-class debut, and after a sparkling 71 he decided to stay and play.
WG Grace
A giant of the game, metaphorically and visibly, and it still surprises the uninitiated that Dr Grace scored a thousand runs before May when he was aged 47. In all he made 54,000 first-class runs and 2809 runs at 18.14, spread over 44 seasons, gaining notoriety and wealth (and weight) with each passing year, and only in his final few matches did his star begin to dim. Even into his fifties, his appetite for the game - in the growing popularity of which he had played a significant part - was undiminished: he founded London County Cricket Club to give "invaluable first-class match experience to many cricketers who could not otherwise get it and who would be all the better for it when they come to play in county cricket". LCCC was officially relaunched in 2004 with a talent-spotting contest. Ninety-three years after his death, Grace's legacy lives on.
A giant of the game, metaphorically and visibly, and it still surprises the uninitiated that Dr Grace scored a thousand runs before May when he was aged 47. In all he made 54,000 first-class runs and 2809 runs at 18.14, spread over 44 seasons, gaining notoriety and wealth (and weight) with each passing year, and only in his final few matches did his star begin to dim. Even into his fifties, his appetite for the game - in the growing popularity of which he had played a significant part - was undiminished: he founded London County Cricket Club to give "invaluable first-class match experience to many cricketers who could not otherwise get it and who would be all the better for it when they come to play in county cricket". LCCC was officially relaunched in 2004 with a talent-spotting contest. Ninety-three years after his death, Grace's legacy lives on.
Steve Waugh
The wiry figure who struggled to make an impact in his early years as a Test cricketer rarely resembled someone who would break the record for the most caps in history. But the hard lessons learned under Allan Border moulded Waugh into a streetfighter, a survivor: the gnarled icon of Australia's domineering cricket of the 1990s. His attitude to injuries became a model of Australian grit and determination, no better epitomised than by his unbeaten 157 against England in 2001, by the end of which he was barely able to stand - let alone run. Mentally and physically, Waugh is one of cricket's icons of longevity.
The wiry figure who struggled to make an impact in his early years as a Test cricketer rarely resembled someone who would break the record for the most caps in history. But the hard lessons learned under Allan Border moulded Waugh into a streetfighter, a survivor: the gnarled icon of Australia's domineering cricket of the 1990s. His attitude to injuries became a model of Australian grit and determination, no better epitomised than by his unbeaten 157 against England in 2001, by the end of which he was barely able to stand - let alone run. Mentally and physically, Waugh is one of cricket's icons of longevity.
Brian Close
His hair was receding badly, but this was Yorkshire cricket's emblem of toughness. Aged 45, 27 years after making his Test debut, he faced a frightening West Indies in 1976, and there was no respect shown by Michael Holding and Co. Helmetless, bouncer after bumper was ducked beneath or fended away, and the only protection he afforded himself was a mouldy plaster on his left elbow. "It must have been the worst wicket I experienced in Test cricket," he said of the battle at Old Trafford, in his last Test. England's youngest to play Test cricket (18 years and 149 days old), he was still playing and coaching Yorkshire seconds into his seventies, concluding more than half-a-century of cricket.
His hair was receding badly, but this was Yorkshire cricket's emblem of toughness. Aged 45, 27 years after making his Test debut, he faced a frightening West Indies in 1976, and there was no respect shown by Michael Holding and Co. Helmetless, bouncer after bumper was ducked beneath or fended away, and the only protection he afforded himself was a mouldy plaster on his left elbow. "It must have been the worst wicket I experienced in Test cricket," he said of the battle at Old Trafford, in his last Test. England's youngest to play Test cricket (18 years and 149 days old), he was still playing and coaching Yorkshire seconds into his seventies, concluding more than half-a-century of cricket.
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John Sherman
Along with WG Grace, Sherman, an allrounder with Surrey, holds the record for the longest first-class career (44 seasons), but unlike Grace, his appearances were rare: he turned out only 27 times. His first four appearances were at the original Lord's, his next four at the present (third) ground, and his career appeared over in 1823. After a gap of 21 years he reappeared in dramatic style representing Manchester, taking 11 for 50 against Yorkshire, and went on to play another five matches until 1852.
Along with WG Grace, Sherman, an allrounder with Surrey, holds the record for the longest first-class career (44 seasons), but unlike Grace, his appearances were rare: he turned out only 27 times. His first four appearances were at the original Lord's, his next four at the present (third) ground, and his career appeared over in 1823. After a gap of 21 years he reappeared in dramatic style representing Manchester, taking 11 for 50 against Yorkshire, and went on to play another five matches until 1852.
Rev Reginald Moss
One of the strangest county debuts came at Worcester in 1925 when Moss, the Rector of Icomb, near Stow-on-the-Wold, played for Worcestershire against Gloucestershire. He was 57 and the last of his 15 first-class appearances had been 32 years earlier. He had made his debut for Lancashire in 1886, although he had also played regularly for Bedfordshire before the war. Moss held two catches, scored two runs and took a wicket, but was not asked back.
One of the strangest county debuts came at Worcester in 1925 when Moss, the Rector of Icomb, near Stow-on-the-Wold, played for Worcestershire against Gloucestershire. He was 57 and the last of his 15 first-class appearances had been 32 years earlier. He had made his debut for Lancashire in 1886, although he had also played regularly for Bedfordshire before the war. Moss held two catches, scored two runs and took a wicket, but was not asked back.
Graeme Hick
Few players caused fans quite as much frustration as Hick. His army of supporters remained loyal to the bitter end, but his meekness in internationals blighted an otherwise remarkable career, one that had promised world domination when he arrived in England as a shy 18-year-old. Sixty-four thousand runs later, and after cracking 136 hundreds, he hung up his boots after 25 years at (nearly) the top of his game. His failure at international level will always linger like a bad smell, but that he continued to pummel county attacks into his 42nd year only emphasises his insatiable appetite for runs.
Few players caused fans quite as much frustration as Hick. His army of supporters remained loyal to the bitter end, but his meekness in internationals blighted an otherwise remarkable career, one that had promised world domination when he arrived in England as a shy 18-year-old. Sixty-four thousand runs later, and after cracking 136 hundreds, he hung up his boots after 25 years at (nearly) the top of his game. His failure at international level will always linger like a bad smell, but that he continued to pummel county attacks into his 42nd year only emphasises his insatiable appetite for runs.
Fred Titmus
Best remembered for his miserly offspin, Titmus was a genuine allrounder, good enough to open for England and score ten fifties. His debut came in 1949, his last appearance in 1982. The first was the final outing for Horace Brearley, the last the farewell Lord's match for his son, Mike. Titmus had officially retired in 1976, but made occasional returns when pitches started to crumble in late summer and class was needed. In 1982, by then 50 but still fit, he took the field in borrowed kit after he had turned up to watch and was accosted by Brearley, who press-ganged him into playing against Surrey.
Best remembered for his miserly offspin, Titmus was a genuine allrounder, good enough to open for England and score ten fifties. His debut came in 1949, his last appearance in 1982. The first was the final outing for Horace Brearley, the last the farewell Lord's match for his son, Mike. Titmus had officially retired in 1976, but made occasional returns when pitches started to crumble in late summer and class was needed. In 1982, by then 50 but still fit, he took the field in borrowed kit after he had turned up to watch and was accosted by Brearley, who press-ganged him into playing against Surrey.
George Gunn
Nottinghamshire's finest, with a record to match, his international career of 15 Tests spanned 23 years. In the Timeless Test against Australia in 1912, Gunn made 52 and 61. Then the Great War took over, after which his profligate run-scoring continued apace for Nottinghamshire: he cracked 13,000 runs in 12 seasons. In fact, he managed 1000 runs in a season on 12 consecutive occasions, eventually finishing with over 35,000. He played his last Test against West Indies in 1930 aged 51, the same match in which Wilfred Rhodes, who was 53, hung up his boots.
Nottinghamshire's finest, with a record to match, his international career of 15 Tests spanned 23 years. In the Timeless Test against Australia in 1912, Gunn made 52 and 61. Then the Great War took over, after which his profligate run-scoring continued apace for Nottinghamshire: he cracked 13,000 runs in 12 seasons. In fact, he managed 1000 runs in a season on 12 consecutive occasions, eventually finishing with over 35,000. He played his last Test against West Indies in 1930 aged 51, the same match in which Wilfred Rhodes, who was 53, hung up his boots.
Will Luke is a staff writer at Cricinfo