Oldest Test Team?
 

There is a lot of talk around Australia that Micheal Clarke might get dropped for the next Test against the Windies, if Langer is fit. Considering dropping Clarke would mean that Brett Lee will be the youngest player in the side at 29 (i think). If this does happen where would it rank in terms of the oldest side to play Test Cricket. I doubt it wold be the oldest as prior to the 30s some players played till there 50odd, but i think it would have to be one of the oldest Test sides since 1950s. So does anyone know what is the oldest Test side, in terms of age and where this Australia team without Clarke would rank?

Not sure, but I am reading a book at the moment about the 1930 England team, and I imagine their ave. Age to be pretty high?

First test:

Jack Hobbs (47)
Herbert Sutcliffe (35)
Wally Hammond (27)
Frank Woolley (43)
Patsy Hendren (41)
Percy Chapman (29)
Harold Larwood (25)
Walter Robins (24)
Maurice Tate (35)
**** Tyldesley (33) curse you, Cricket Web filter.
George Duckworth (29)

Average age around 34. Positively Australian.

But its youngest player is still considerably sub-29... I wonder what the oldest youngest player ever is?

From memory the Oz team in 32/33 was pretty old, but when I looked at the teams McCabe, Braddles & Fingleton lower the avearge a bit. The 3rd test side still were thirty-two & a half on average tho:

Fingleton (24)
Woodfull (35)
Bradman (24)
McCabe (22)
Ponsford (32)
Richardson (38)
Oldfield (38)
Grimmett (40)
Wall (28)
O’Reilly (27)
Ironmonger (50)

England's side in the 1972 Ashes series was not a young combination. IIRC Illingworth, D'Oliveira and MJK Smith were all past 40. Maybe Gifford as well. Boycott, Edrich & Luckhurst were all in their mid 30's, and I think Knott & Snow were in their early 30's. Greig was the baby of the side, and he must have been in his mid/late 20's. The oldest XI picked was probably at Lord's, when John Price, also in mid/late 30's was called up to replace the injured Geoff Arnold.

I remember "young" Barry Wood being called up for the 5th test. IIRC he was 31.

EDIT 1
Looks like I owe a couple of those guys an apology, but here's the accurate version of England at Lord's 1972. The side was Boycott (31y, 8m), Edrich (35y, 0m), Luckhurst (33y, 4m), Smith(39y, 0m), D'Oliveira (40y, 8m), Greig (25y, 8m), Knott (26y, 2m), Illingworth (40y, 0m), Snow (30y, 8m), Gifford (32y, 3m), Price (34y, 11m).
The average age was 33 years & 5 months. Possibly a record for post WW2?

EDIT 2
The team for the 3rd test may have been fractionally older, with 35 year old Parfitt replacing an injured Boycott and 31 year old Peter Lever replacing Price. Plus the rest of the side were 3 weeks older, of course.

still doesnt matter what age they are, if ya good enough ya old enough :happy:







*

Again though... several ages under the 29 of Brett Lee.

This could possibly be the side with the oldest youngest player in it, if it does indeed get selected, which I doubt.

It probably is. And the average age may well be not so different from England's 1972 side. Even more so when Aus send out the same sort of lineup in 2006/07.

I doubt they will though, to be honest. Clarke (if he does indeed get dropped this time, which I doubt) or Watson, or both, or possibly even Tait, will be back by then. Clarke and Watson are both only 24 at the moment, and Tait is only 22.

Jaques and Cosgrove on their current form could be close, as could Cullen if he keeps improving...

Being equally honest, I don't seriously believe they will either. Mind you, I'd be surprised if Tait was in the 1st choice starting XI - surely the attack will be MCGrath, Lee, Warne & MacGill if they're all fit. Which does raise he chances of you being dead right about Watson, of course.

Who knows by that time Lee could be a out and out bowling all rounder and be batting at 7 ;)

Lee will be the 4th oldest youngest player. Apparently the oldest was Vallence Jupp at 30 years and 104 days. Here's the full list.

www.*******************/STATS/TEST/teams_oldest_youngest.php[/url]

Think the word filter has issues with that address... :D