Cricket, like every other sport, is about fitness, longevity, fortitude and mental strength, as much as it is about technique and skill. Hence, the ultimate format of the game takes the name ‘Test’. It tests every aspect and attribute of a sportsperson, and it is in this format that a player’s performance is truly judged.

In the modern game, with different formats and an increasing number of matches to play in a short period, a cricketer’s fitness and longevity are tested more than ever. Unlike in the 20th century, it is a rare sight today to see a player carry on when they are aged above 35.

The recent retirements of players such as Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, and Eoin Morgan, in different formats, shed some light on how challenging it is for modern players to withstand having to play in tight schedules and at a very high level. However, there have been a few exceptions, who have carried on playing at the highest stage and are proving that age is only a number.

Here are the oldest current cricketers of each team in Tests:

1. David Warner (Australia) – 35 years and 267 days

The left-handed New South Wales player has been one of the best openers and top all-format batters, in the last decade or so. Although David Warner, at the age of 35, is not at his sparkling best, he is still one of the Men in Yellow’s trusted batters up top.

Warner was part of Australia’s last Test series in Sri Lanka, which was played in June and July. He also scored the winning runs in the first Test match in Galle, which eventually helped the team salvage a 1-1 draw in the two-match series.

Warner, in 2022, has scored 266 runs in seven Test matches with two fifties and a top score of 68. Both the fifties came on the Pakistan tour in March, in which Australia won 1-0 in three matches. He currently stands number 17 in the ICC Test Batting Rankings.