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Asif Afridi's magic on debut: Oldest debutants to grab a fifer in Test cricket

Arnav Chopra

Simpson-Hayward, Carr, Johnson, Marriott and Afridi (Source: @fredfertang, @TheCricketWire, @PictureSporting/X.com)Simpson-Hayward, Carr, Johnson, Marriott and Afridi (Source: @fredfertang, @TheCricketWire, @PictureSporting/X.com)

There have been many players who have impressed from a very young age and have made a mark at the beginning of their careers. Whereas, there are others who turn out to be late bloomers in Test cricketing history.

On those lines, Pakistan's Asif Afridi, in the ongoing Test against South Africa, became the oldest debutant to grab a five-wicket haul. Therefore, we will have a glance at the top 5 oldest debutants in Test cricket's history to grab a five-wicket haul.

5) George Simpson-Hayward - 34 years 208 days, 6/43 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 1910

At fifth position on this list is the former English spinner George Simpson-Hayward. The 34-year-old and 208-day-old at the time of his debut, George picked a six-wicket haul against South Africa, playing for England, in Johannesburg back in 1910. In this encounter, he gave away just 43 runs in his 16-over spell, helping England bowl South Africa out for 208 in the first innings.

The match turned out to be an absolute thriller, with South Africa winning the first Test by just 19 runs. Simpson was an off-spinner who played for Worcestershire in county cricket. His career lasted just two months, after which he never played in another game, having played a total of five Test matches for England.

4) Douglas Carr - 37 years 145 days, 5/146 vs Australia, The Oval, 1909

At number four on this list is another former English leg spinner, Douglas Carr. Carr, who made his debut in 1909, featured in his only Test for England against Australia at The Oval at the age of 37 years and 145 days. In this game, he grabbed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, bowling a total of 34 overs and giving away 146 runs.

In the second innings, he took two wickets and never played for England again. This encounter was the fifth Test of the 1909 Ashes series. The game ended in a draw after the time ran out.

3) Hines Johnson - 37 years 258 days, 5/41 & 5/55 vs England, Kingston, 1948

Now, in the third position on this list is the West Indian pacer, Hines Johnson. Johnson first played for the West Indies in 1948 against England at Kingston at the age of 37 years 258 days. In this game, he grabbed a five-wicket haul in the first innings, where he only gave away 41 runs in 34.4 overs, helping West Indies knock England over for 227 in the first innings.

In the second innings, he came back stronger as well, picking five wickets again, this time giving away 55 runs. In the end, the West Indies won by 10 wickets, chasing down 74 runs in the final innings. Johnson was one of the fastest bowlers for the West Indies. He played a total of just three Test matches for the Caribbean side and took a total of 13 wickets in his entire career, with 10 of those coming in his debut match against England.

2) Charles Marriott - 37 years 332 days, 5/37 & 6/59 vs West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Known as the father, former English leg spinner Charles Marriott was one of the pioneers of English cricket, especially in County, while Marriott played his lone Test against the West Indies at the Oval, which was the third Test of this series when he was 37 years 332 days old. In this game, England batted first and put up 312 runs on the board. In reply, the West Indies were cleaned up for just 100, where Marriott, with his leg breaks, picked up a 5-wicket haul for just 37 runs in 11.5 overs.

In return, the West Indies, who were following on, were only able to manage 195 as Marriott came back even stronger to grab a six-wicket haul this time, giving away just 59 runs in his 29.2 overs spell as England won comfortably by 17 runs. Marriott played just this game, as he bagged a total of 11 wickets and never featured for the Three Lions ever again in his career. Despite that, he remains a legend of first-class cricket with 711 wickets in 159 county games for Kent and Lancashire.

1) Asif Afridi - 38 years 299 days, 6/79 vs South Africa, Rawalpindi, 2025*

Now, the oldest player to ever pick a 5-wicket haul on Test debut is Pakistan's Asif Afridi, at the age of 38 years and 299 days when the match began. Afridi debuted for Pakistan in the ongoing Test against South Africa at Rawalpindi, where he bowled an outstanding spell of 6 for 79 in 34.3 overs, helping Pakistan keep South Africa to 404 after home side's first innings score of 333.

Born in 1986, the late bloomer, he has picked up plenty of wickets, especially in domestic cricket, and just now made his debut in Test cricket and is expected to feature for the Pakistan side in the upcoming few years and is expected to leave a mark with his bowling as he did on his debut. Therefore, with this milestone, Afridi tops the charts as the oldest player to pick a 5-wicket haul, and that too on Test debut, which is highly unlikely to be broken anytime soon.