![Craig Ervine slams double-century at 41 [Source: ZimbabweCricket/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1794229269492_CraigErvine.jpg?type=hq)
Craig Ervine slams double-century at 41 [Source: ZimbabweCricket/X.com]
Craig Ervine slammed a double century against Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday evening, becoming the oldest player to go past 200 in the 21st century. Earlier on the day, he also broke teammate Brendan Taylor to become Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion.
Courtesy of his knock, the Test series opener ended in a draw. Having lost the T20I and ODI series, the Africans will still have a shot at a trophy on the tour, with all to play for in the second Test. With the double-ton, Ervine also became one of the oldest Test double-centurions in the history of the sport. Here's a list of the oldest players to achieve this feat.
5. Graham Gooch (ENG) - 40y 314d vs New Zealand
The former England captain Graham Gooch scored 210 off 317 against New Zealand in the first Test, as England hosted the Kiwis in Nottingham in 1994.
After wrapping New Zealand for 251, the hosts lost Alec Stewart in the 5th over before Michael Atherton and Gooch had a 263-run partnership 2nd wicket partnership. Gooch batted till the 110th over and registered 29 fours to finish with 210. England only batted once, scoring 567/8 (d) and won by an innings and 90 runs.
4. Patsy Hendren (ENG) - 40y 361d vs West Indies
During England's tour of the Caribbean, the teams locked horns in the 2nd Test in Port of Spain in February 1930. Batting first, they were bundled out for 208, and West Indies responded with 254.
In the third innings, Patsy Hendren, just 4 days shy of turning 41, racked up a brilliant unbeaten 205 with 29 fours, including a 237-run partnership with another centurion, Les Ames. Hendren took the team to a 379-run lead, as the visitors won by 167 runs.
3. Craig Ervine (ZIM) - 41y 78d vs Afghanistan
The 41-year-old, who once again became the oldest Zimbabwe batter to score a Test century, is one of only three in the format to reach a double-ton after turning 41.
After a cheap dismissal in the first innings of the first Test in Sharjah, Ervine walked in to bat at 120/3 in the second innings. The senior pro carried the bat till stumps on Day 5, finishing with 206 (279) with 23 fours and two sixes. With this, he became the first 40+ player since the turn of the century to reach 200+.
Ervine helped Zimbabwe reach 523/5 and take a 513-run lead, ending the Test in a draw.
2. Jack Hobbs (ENG) - 41y 195d vs South Africa
Jack Hobbs is the oldest Englishman to score a Test double-hundred. In the second Test of 1924 South Africa's tour of England, South Africa batted first and managed only 273 in the first innings.
In response, opening batter Jack Hobbs, 41y 195d at the time, stitched a 268-run opening partnership with centurion Herbert Sutcliffe and a 142-run stand with another centurion Frank Woolley. By the end of the knock, Hobbs scored 211 runs with 15 fours and took England to 531/2 (d). The hosts subsequently won by an innings and 18 runs.
1. Eric Rowan (SA) - 42y 6d vs England
South Africa toured England in the summer of 1951, and in the 4th Test in Leeds, opening batter Eric Rowan became the first double centurion aged over 42. Just 6 days after turning 42, Rowan scored a mammoth 236, while clearing the boundary 28 times to help South Africa reach 538 in 235.3 overs.
To date, no other batter over 42 has scored a double century in Test cricket. England responded with 505, followed by 87/0 in the Proteas' second innings and the game ended in a draw. Rowan scored an unbeaten 60 in the second innings.
