World's oldest Test cricketer Norman Gordon dies at the age of 103

World’s oldest Test cricketer Norman Gordon has passed away at the age of 103

The world’s oldest Test cricketer, South African Norman Gordon, died at the age of 103 in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“He died peacefully at around 2am this morning, in his Hillbrow flat where he had lived for over 60 years,” former Test cricketer Ali Bacher, a close friend, said.

“He was a person who lived a very full life. His passion was for cricket and then golf and he always felt so privileged and appreciative of the wonderful people he had met.”

Oldest Test cricketer

Born on August 6, 1911, at the age of 103, Gordon, who was a pace bowler, lived longer than any other Test cricketer. He was the last remaining cricketer who played in the ‘timeless Test’ in 1938-39 between South Africa and England, which didn’t produce a result even after 10 days of play.

In fact, Gordon was in the middle of his 93rd over of the match when the captains decided to call it a draw.

He bowled 92.2 eight-ball overs in the match, an equivalent of 738 balls. This record still stands as the most number of balls ever bowled by a bowler in a Test match.

A fast swing bowler, Gordon took 20 wickets in the 5-match series. His career however ended prematurely due to the second World War.

Former South African cricketer Norman Gordon died today at the age of 103y-27d. In 2011 he turned 100 the only Test cricketer to do so RIP

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 2, 2014

Gordon was the only surviving cricketer of the pre-second World War era.

A man known for his brilliant fitness, he remained a golf enthusiast till the age of 96. However, he had to stop becuase of weak eyesight.

Norman Gordon with Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Fanie de Villiers, Peter Pollock, Neil Adcock and Mike Procter during the 100th birthday celebrations for South Africa's and the wolrd's oldest living Test player in 2011

Born a Jewish, he recalled being heckled by a spectator while he ran in to bowl in his debut Test in 1938. “Here comes the rabbi!” the spectator shouted.

Recalling the incident in an interview a couple of years ago, Gordon said, “Fortunately I took five wickets in that innings, and that shut him up for the rest of the tour.”

In 5 Tests, he took 20 wickets at an average fo 40.35, bowled 1966 balls and took two 5-wicket hauls.

He played a few first-class matches for Transvaal after the war and retired in 1949 with 126 wickets, having played 29 first-class matches. He is survived by his son Brian who had been taking his care.

Former South Africa bowler Lindsay Tuckett, at the age of 95 years, is now the oldest surviving Test cricketer.