5 all-time oldest captains in Test cricket

Test cricket has a rich history of 141 years. Over 2300 Tests have been played in various parts of the world by 12 Test playing nations. From DW Gregory captaining Australia in the first match ever in 1877 to Asghar Stanikzai captaining Afghanistan in their inaugural Test in 2018, these countries have seen a total of 330 different captains.

These players have captained their countries under various circumstances, at different stages of their careers, at different ages; and their names have been written in the history of Test cricket.

Here, we have a look at the top 5 oldest players to have captained their countries in Test cricket:

1) W. G. Grace (England)

Known as the 'Father of Cricket', W. G. Grace played 22 Tests for England from 1880-1899. He was one of the players from the oldest generation to play cricket. No one alive today has seen him play live, but his legacy remains. He scored 1098 runs in 36 innings at an average of 32.29. He has two centuries and five half-centuries to his name. He was the first cricketer to score over 50,000 runs in First Class cricket.

He captained England in 13 Tests. His age during his last Test as captain was 50 years and 320 days. The match was played from 1 June 1899 to 3 June 1899 at Nottingham against Australia. It was also his last Test. The match ended in a draw.

2) Sir Gubby Allen (England)

Sir Allen played 25 Tests for England from 1930 to 1948. He was a right-handed batsman and a right arm fast bowler. He scored 750 runs in 33 innings at an average of 24.19. He has one century and three half-centuries in Test cricket. In 45 innings, he has taken 81 wickets at an average of 29.37. He has five five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket match haul.

He captained England in 11 Tests. His age during his last Test as captain was 45 years and 245 days. The match was played from 27 March to 1 April in 1948 at Kingston against West Indies. England lost the match by 10 wickets. It was also his last Test match.

3) Wally Hammond (England)

The third captain on this list is also from England. Hammond played 85 Tests. A premier batsman and a valuable right-arm medium-fast bowler, he scored 7249 runs at an average of 58.45 and a highest score of 336*.

He has 24 fifties and 22 hundreds to his name. He is one of the few to score over 50,000 runs in First Class cricket. He has 84 Test wickets to his name in 110 innings and a whopping 732 wickets in First Class cricket.

Read again what you just read: 50,551 runs and 732 wickets in First Class cricket.

He was also a brilliant fielder with 110 international catches.

He captained England in 20 Tests. His age during his last Test as captain was 43 years and 279 days. The match was played from 21 March to 25 March 1947 against New Zealand at Christchurch. The match was drawn. He never played Test cricket again.

4) Warren Bardsley (Australia)

Warren Bardsley (R)

Bardsley played 41 Tests for Australia from 1909 to 1926. The southpaw scored 2469 runs in 66 innings at an average of 40.47. His highest score was an unbeaten 193 against England at Lord's. He has 14 fifties and 6 hundreds to his name.

He captained Australia in just 2 Tests. His age during his last Test as captain was 43 years and 233 days. The match was played from 24 July to 27 July 1926 at Manchester against England. The fixture ended in a draw. He played just one Test after that.

5) Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan)

The only player from 21st century on this list, Misbah played 75 Tests for Pakistan. Starting his international career at an age of 27 years, he scored 5222 Test runs at an average of 46.62. He has 39 fifties and 10 hundreds under his belt.

He captained Pakistan in 56 Tests. His age during his last Test as captain was 42 years and 351 days. The match was played from 10 May to 14 May 2017 at Roseau against West Indies. Pakistan won the match convincingly by 101 runs. It was his last Test match for Pakistan.