Pakistan left-arm spinner Asif Afridi became the oldest bowler in Test history to acquire a five-wicket haul on debut. He achieved the feat on Wednesday, on the third day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi.
Afridi recorded the landmark when he dismissed South Africa spinner Simon Harmer leg-before on 10, reducing the visitors to 210 for seven in their pursuit of Pakistan’s first-innings score of 333.
Afridi broke a 92-year-old world record held by England’s Charles Marriott, who picked two five-wicket hauls on debut against the West Indies on successive days at the Oval in 1933. Marriott was 37 years and 334 days old when he bagged the feat, nearly a year younger than Afridi, who is 38 years and 301 days old as of Wednesday.
Afridi surpassed the Pakistan record held by his current teammate Noman Ali, who claimed figures of 5 for 35 against the Proteas during his Test debut in 2021.
The remarkable record for the oldest player to achieve a five-wicket haul in Test cricket belongs to the Australian spin bowler, Bert Ironmonger. He was 49 years and 311 days old when he accomplished this feat by taking 6 wickets for just 18 runs against South Africa in Melbourne on 12th February in 1932.
