OLD is GOLD

There is a saying that life begins at 40. But there was a general conception that it does not apply to sports persons. In cricket very rarely we find people playing after the age of 38. It was said that WG Grace and Wilfred Rhodes etc. played till 50. In modern cricket we all know that it would not be a reality. Proving contrary to that belief there are some cricketers who are playing age and cricket simultaneously and proving to be successful. Brad Hodge’s T20 innings yesterday made us to compile a list comprising cricket players who are more than 36 years old and yet going strong.

1. Brad Hodge –One of Australia’s most talented players who did not get the chance he deserved because his middle order compatriots belonged Australia’s golden generation team and did seldom wrong. He did not pale away like his other colleagues;he took to the T20 format and started playing all over the globe. The fact that he is T20’s highest run scorer till date seems to be a marvel. He celebrated his 39^th birthday recently by his inclusion in the Australia’s T20 team. His T20 experience by playing in leagues all over the world has definitely pushed his case for selection.
2. Brad Hogg –An Australian spinner who apart from Stuart McGill,did not suffer from the Warne – comparison syndrome. He was effective during his period of international cricket and played a big role in Australia capturing the 2007 world cup. Having announced his retirement from 2008,he took on media related roles, when an offer came to him to play in the Big Bash League. He was very effective for Perth Scorchers and his wrong un was still not readable by batsmen. That is when John Inverarity’s selection panel pulled him out of retirement from international cricket and he played the previous edition T20 world cup. He has been part of the T20 squad ever since and he is fit and raring to go in this year’s edition as well. He is 43 yearscurrently, and this will make him the oldest T20 player ever.
3. MisbahUlHaq ,Younis Khan–The Pakistan’s captain’s international careerbloomed late. Having been restricted as a domestic giant for long, he struggled to replicate the consistency at international cricket. But he turned all that away by almost single handedly delivering Pakistan their 2007 World T20. The scoop shot that he played at the finals is symbolic of his cricketing career. He is Pakistan’s nearly hero (unlike the other few like Imran,Wasim,Waqar,Javed)because he takes the team close to the finishing line on many occasions, but does not complete the act. But nevertheless he has been the sole batting bright spot for Pakistan for the past few seasons. In additional to that his calm head as captain guides the often erratic, yet brilliant Pakistan team. He is close to being 40 years, yet he has showed no signs of slowing down and his batting keeps on improving every season. Younis Khan has been the batting savior for Pakistan in tests since the retirement of InzamamUlHaq and Mohammed Yousuf. His batting average in tests is greater than 50, and the only other players to hold this distinction for Pakistan are Inzy and Miandad. That suggests the greatness of this man. His form in test cricket is steady, and along with Misbahare the best batting examples for the current generation of Pakistan’s batsmen.
4. Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin -Australia’s opening was an issue of major concern after the departure of Matthew Hayden. Rogers in his second coming in international cricket has quietly managed to bridge the gap. He has formed a fruitful partnership at the top of the order along with David Warner and played several crucial knocks in the two Ashes series and in the South African tour.Haddin on the other hand was earmarked as the successor of Gilchrist , but due to bad form and personal reasons could not hold on to his spot. But his successor Matthew Wade had a few bad seasons, and the lack of leadership options to support Clarke brought Haddin back into the fray. He had a great last season, a la Superman, rescuing Australia almost every time in the home ashes series. At 37 years, according to Darren Lehmann he and Rogers still remain an integral part of their plans for even their next ashes series.
5. Tilekartne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene–The Sri Lankan veteran troika are in their 37^thyear, but they remain their team’s key performers till date. Especially Sangakkara, like wine seems to be getting better with age. Dilshan has quit tests to concentrate on ODI’s and T20’s, while the other two are part of all three formats. The fact that Sri Lanka last played a match without the three was way back in 1999, suggests the longevity of these champion players. Having been part of 3 world cup finals, they are yearning for that elusive World cup win.