5 Oldest players to score a century in One Day Internationals 

It is often said that limited overs cricket is a young man's game and, for all intents and purposes it is a fair statement, considering the demands that the game imposes on a player. Scoring a century in 50 overs involves a lot of running, hitting prowess and, stamina that might be beyond the physical attributes of an older player.

In addition to that, there is the matter of diminishing fitness, eye-sight and bat speed. Hence, it is an achievement if a player ends up becoming one of the oldest ever to score a century in ODI cricket. Here is a look at some of those cricketers who defied the handicap of their age and managed to get to three figures in ODI cricket.

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#5 - 38 years 327 days by Sachin Tendulkar against Bangladesh at Dhaka, 2012

For most of his career, Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar was the world's leading batsman and is still considered among the greatest players to have played in ODIs. However, this was not one of his vintage knocks and, much of it had to do with the fact that he was nearing the stupendous record of 100 international centuries.

On the other hand, the fact that he was getting older, may have also been a factor and at 38 years and 327 days, it may have been a very tough ask for him to bat for as long as he did.

Tendulkar consumed 147 deliveries to score 114. He hit 12 fours and 1 six and remains one of his slower efforts in limited overs cricket but along with the coveted record, he also got the distinction of being the 5th oldest cricketer to score an ODI century. India made 289 for 5 but the hosts chased the total down with ease.

#4 - 39 years 51 days by Geoffrey Boycott against Australia at Sydney, 1979

A true legend

The former legendary England opening batsman was not particularly known for his attacking batsmanship and, only played 36 ODIs in his long career. However, what is remarkable about his ODI career is that the only century he made in the shorter format of the game came when he was just over 39 years old and that makes him the 4th oldest player to score a century in ODIs.

More importantly, he made it against Australia and that too in a game that England eventually went on to win at Sydney. Against a bowling attack consisting of stalwarts like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, Boycott scored a fine century and made 108 off only 124 balls.

It was a relatively quick century in that era and, he hit seven boundaries. England went on to score 264 in 49 overs and trounced Australia by 72 runs.

#3 - 39 years 111 days by Ed Joyce against U.A.E. At Dubai, 2018

Ed Joyce played a really crucial role in that match

The Irishman has played for both England and Ireland, but it is with the country of his birth that he has found more success. Ed Joyce's carefree stroke-making and powerful batting have made him one of Ireland's best-known cricketers and in January 2018, he became the third oldest cricketer to score an ODI century. In an ICC Academy game against U.A.E.

Joyce came into bat after Ireland had lost 2 wickets for 5 runs in their chase of 223 and then proceeded to play an excellent innings to see his team through. He made 116 in 149 balls and hit 13 fours, along with 1 six.

However, once he scored the century he became the 3rd oldest ever to score an ODI hundred. Joyce was 39 years and 111 days old at the time and this is a record that he might own for some time yet.

#2 - 39 years 212 days by Sanath Jayasuriya against India at Dambulla, 2009

Sanath Jayasuriya

If there is one batsman who had been the tormenter in chief of the Indian cricket team for most of his career then it was former Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya. He continued to do so even when he was almost 40 years old.

In the 1st game of the 5 match series played at Dambulla, the left-hander scored the bulk of the runs for the hosts and brought up a relatively quick century.

He made 107 in 114 balls and hit 10 fours and 1 six to be the only player in the side to even cross 50 runs that day. Although the innings made him the oldest player ever to score an ODI hundred at the time, it did not end as a match-winning effort as Sri Lanka only managed 246 in their 50 overs. India won the game by 6 wickets.

#1 - 43 years 162 days by Khurram Khan against Afghanistan at Dubai, 2014

Khurram Khan played a match-saving innings

For around 5 years, it must have been a given that Sanath Jayasuriya's record would not be broken but in came U.A.E's very own senior citizen, Khurram Khan, to usurp that record by scoring a century at the age of 43 years and 162 days.

The left-handed middle-order batsman made his debut for U.A.E back in 2004 but, it was not till almost a decade later that he scored his 1st (and only) ODI century.

In the process, he also became the record-holder for the achievement which is the subject of this article. Chasing 281 against Afghanistan, U.A.E had slumped to 32 for 2 when he came in to bat but Khan proceeded to play a superbly attacking inning and, remained unbeaten till the end as the target was successfully chased down. He scored 132 in 138 deliveries and hit 17 fours, in addition to a solitary six as his team romped home by 6 wickets.