Top 9 Test playing nations and their oldest active Test cricketers

Across all the formats of cricket, Test cricket is the longest form, where a match is played over the period of 5 days. Those countries who have their Test status as determined by International Cricket Council only can play the Test format at the international level. The name Test mainly represents the test of the mental and physical strength of players.

The cricket pundits refer to Test cricket as the oldest form of the game and the format has given many legends to the sport. The cricket veterans used to retire from the limited overs format to focus on Tests. However, that trend is being reversed now due to the advent of T20 format. But, there are certain players who still focus more on the longest format and here is the list of the oldest active players for Test-playing nations.

( The following list includes players who have played Test cricket within the past 18 months and have not formally announced their retirement.)

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#1 Shaun Marsh - Australia - 35 years and 108 days

Shaun Marsh has been one of the main pillars of Australia in Test format

Nicknamed as Son of Swampy (SOS), Shaun Marsh is a left-handed batsman and a part-time spin bowler who has been performing his best for his nation. With his solid drives and defense, Marsh has remained a cornerstone of Australia in the longest format of the game.

The elder brother of Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh made his Test debut in the year 2011 against Sri Lanka. Marsh received his Test cap numbered 422 and marked his presence in the entire world. In the opening match itself, Marsh scored his first century and became the 19th Australian cricketer to achieve this feat.

Injuries have been one concern for Marsh. Due to such breaks, Marsh has so far just played 34 matches in which he has scored 2082 runs at the average of 35.28. Marsh is the current oldest Test cricketer for Australia who is still playing the game.

#2 Jimmy Anderson - England - 36 years and 87 days

Jimmy Anderson is the only English bowler to pass 500 Test wickets

Jimmy Anderson is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of his generation due to his swinging deliveries. Anderson has made an immense number of records while playing Test cricket for his nation. Anderson is the only English bowler to pass 500 Test wickets and is also the bowler to take the highest wickets for England in both Test and ODIs.

Jimmy entered the world of Test cricket on 22 May 2003 as the 613th player for England. Shattering the opposition, he took a five-wicket haul in his debut match against Zimbabwe. From 2003 to present, Anderson has taken 564 wickets from 143 matches which even includes 26 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls. Anderson has a bowling average of just 26.84, which makes him one of the best bowlers of his era.

#3 Hasim Amla - South Africa - 35 years and 208 days

Hashim Amla with his off-side drive is just a treat to watch

Regarded as the greatest modern-day batsman in terms of technique, Hashim Amla is a South African cricketer who has been playing the lead role for his nation in the Test format. Hashim Amla has mastered his art of playing the off-side punch, scoring majority of the runs in that area. He is a right-handed batsman and can even bowl some off-spin.

He made his Test debut against India in the year 2004 as the 295th player for South Africa to play Test cricket. So, far he is the highest individual run scorer for South Africa in this format. Amla played his best innings against England at Oval in 2012 as he scored the triple century in that match. Amla is the oldest Test cricketer for South Africa who is still playing this format.

#4 Azhar Ali - Pakistan - 33 years and 248 days

Azhar Ali with his unique century celebration

Azhar Ali is the current Pakistani Test player and a former captain of Pakistan’s ODI team. Ali had recently retired from the ODI format of the game to focus on Test cricket. Azhar Ali became the first cricketer to score a century, double century and triple century in a day-night Test match.

The stalwart made these unique 3 records in just one game conducted in October 2016 against West Indies. Ali has been one of the star players for Pakistan with his solid batting skills. Ali became one of the few Pakistani players to make his Test debut before playing an ODI match. Azhar has so far scored over five thousand runs for his nation and is the current oldest Test player for Pakistan.

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#5 Sri Lanka - Dilruwan Perera - 36 Years and 95 Days

Sri Lanka v England: First Test - Day Three

Dilruwan Perera made his international debut way back in 2007 against England in an ODI match. However, it took him 7 years more to earn his first Test cap when he made his debut in 2014 versus Pakistan. 11 years after making his ODI debut, Dilruwan has only been able to play 13 ODI matches for Sri Lanka.

He has played 32 matches in the Test format and scored 1,043 runs at an average of above 20. Perera has picked 132 wickets with the ball and is even a part of the squad for the series against England.

#6 Neil Broom - New Zealand - 34 years and 339 days

Neil Broom is the current oldest Test player for New Zealand

Neil Broom made his entry in Test cricket in recent years. After having a successful domestic season, Broom made his debut on 16 March 2017 against South Africa as the 272nd player for his nation.

Broom first marked his presence in the world of cricket way back in 2009 during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy but later on vanished away from international cricket. So far, he has just played 2 Test matches for his nation by scoring just 32 runs from it. He is the current oldest Test cricketer for New Zealand who is still playing.

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#7 Murali Vijay - India - 34 years and 207 days

Murali Vijay is the oldest Test cricketer for India who is still playing this format

Born on 1 April 1984, the guy from Chennai, Murali Vijay is the oldest Test cricketer of India who is still playing the game. Vijay made his debut on 6 November 2008 as the 260th Test player for India.

Murali Vijay has been playing this format for 11 years and is still regarded as one of the best opening batsmen for India. Vijay has so far scored 3933 runs from his 59 matches averaging 39.33. Apart from this, he is also one of the outstanding fielders in the slip cordon and has taken 48 catches thus far.

Presently, Vijay has not been in his best form. He is being regularly dropped from the playing 11 due to his inconsistency. But Vijay has got a chance to perform in this format as he has been picked by the selectors for the Australia tour.

#8 Devon Smith - West Indies - 37 years and 4 days

Devon Smith is the oldest Test cricketer for West Indies who hasn't announced his retirement from this format

Devon Smith is the current oldest active Test cricketer for West Indies who made his debut in the year 2003 against the mighty Australian team. Devon Smith registered himself as one of the strongest off-side players for his nation with his classic off drives.

In his debut match, Smith scored a half-century in the second innings of the match amassing 62 runs. Due to his strong impression, Smith secured his place as an opening batsman for the latter part of that same series. Devon Smith has been away from the international circuit for a while but has not announced his retirement yet.

#9 Abdur Razzak - Bangladesh - 36 years and 132 days

Abdur Razzak was the first Bangladeshi bowler to take 200 wickets in ODIs

Abdur Razzak is a Bangladeshi cricketer who just plays Test cricket and has retired from the limited over format of the game. Razzak is considered as one of the best spin bowlers for Bangladesh.

Razzak made his debut in 2006 against the mighty Australian side as the 45th player for Bangladesh to play Test cricket. He is the first left-arm spinner and second spin bowler after Saqlain Mushtaq to take a hattrick. Razzak took 23 Test wickets in his 12 matches with his best bowling figures of 4/63.