Craig Ervine in action (Source: AFP Photos)On Sunday, Craig Ervine set a new world record while playing for Zimbabwe against Australia in the third and final ODI of the three-match series at Harare Sports Club. Ervine entered the history books when he took a single off Adam Zampa in the 35th over of Zimbabwe’s innings to reach his 25th half-century.Ervine was one of the four 40+-year-old cricketers, along with Sikandar Raza, Brendan Taylor and Graeme Cremer, who played for Zimbabwe in a single ODI match. No ODI match has ever seen four veterans aged 40+ enter the playing XI from a single side at once.To make it even more memorable, Ervine did something special on Sunday to rewrite the record books.Craig Ervine Enters ODI Record Books As Oldest Half-CenturionAt the age of 41 years and 32 days, Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine became the oldest player ever to score a half-century in an ODI. Earlier, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi held the record, reaching there at 40 years and 286 days.Oldest Batters To Score 50+ In An ODI (Full-Member Nations)41y 32d - Craig Ervine vs AUS, Harare, 2026*40y 286d - Mohammad Nabi (AFG) vs BAN, Abu Dhabi, 202540y 283d - Misbah-ul-Haq (PAK) vs SA, Auckland, 201540y 226d - Geoffrey Boycott (ENG) vs AUS, Lord’s, 198140y 155d - Clive Lloyd (WI) vs SL, WACA, 1985Eventually, Ervine fell to Adam Zampa, the bowler against whom he took a single for his historic half-century, after scoring 59 off 79 balls.Also Read: Zimbabwe’s Newman Nyamhuri Sets World Record Vs AustraliaZimbabwe’s stand-in captain, Sikandar Raza, who is also 40+, later reached a half-century. However, he did not make the top 5 list of the oldest batsmen to score 50+ in an ODI.Ervine, Raza Join Other Legends After 50sBoth Ervine and Raza have notched up half-centuries twice each in ODIs after turning 40 years. Only Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq and West Indies’ Clive Lloyd have had more half-centuries than he has after turning 40.Most 50+ Scores After Turning 40 In ODIs (Full-Member Nations)5 - Misbah-ul-Haq3 - Clive Lloyd2 - Craig Ervine, Sikandar RazaA Look At Craig Ervine's CareerOver the years, Ervine has played 133 ODIs for Zimbabwe, with 3711 runs at an average of 32.55. He also has four centuries in the format, with the highest score of an unbeaten 130.Ervine has also played 32 Tests and 71 T20Is, scoring 1991 and 1449 runs, respectively. In Tests, Ervine has four centuries and eight half-centuries, with the highest score reading 160.Ervine is widely regarded as one of the most decorated Zimbabwean middle-order batters. He and Sean Williams have built a reputation as Zimbabwe’s most reliable pillars in the batting unit for the last decade or so.To complement them, Sikandar Raza later joined hands to make it more formidable.Also Read: Hyderabad Squad For Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Announced; Mohammed Siraj Named Captain
