Top 11 oldest players in ICC World Cup 2015

In the ICC World Cup 2015 hosted by Australia and New Zealand, there are 17 players in the teams’ squads who are the over the age of 35. Assuming that all of them will play at least a match in the World Cup, it is the third highest number of players in a single edition of a World Cup ageing over 35.In 2007, there were 27 players ageing over 35; in 2003, there were 18. In the last World Cup, there were 13 players. In this World Cup, there are three players above the age of 40. Only in 1975 and 1996 there were three players ageing over 40. World CupAge of 35+Age of 40+1975831979901983711987121199214219961131999151200318220072722011131201517*3* For this World Cup, the count is based on the number of players with that age criteria in the squads; if any of these players below don’t play in the World Cup, the count will be less. For the previous World Cups, though, the count is the number of players who actually played in at least a match.Let us, now, see the oldest players in the upcoming World Cup.

#1 11 - Daniel Vettori (NZ) - 36 Years and 18 Days

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has recovered just in time from a career-threatening back injury to be fit for theWorld Cup. He turned 36 recently and will enter into the World Cup as the 11tholdest player.

Vettori played in the previous three World Cups as well 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Vettoris ODI career for New Zealand

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Avg	5WH
282	2151	83	17.07	0	282	5/7	32.58	2

Vettoris World Cup career for New Zealand

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Avg	5WH
23	117	44	13	0	21	4/23	41	0

Vettori has an abundance of experience, and his 10 overs will be a key factor for New Zealand in the World Cup.

#2 10 - Ed Joyce (Ire) - 36 Years & 145 Days

Ed Joyce, the 10th oldest player in this World Cup, will be 36 years and 145 days old on February 14. He is the oldest from Ireland into the World Cup and has played 28 ODIs for his country.

The left-hander represented England in the 2007 ICC World Cup, but returned to Ireland to play for them in the 2011 edition and has since then been with them.

Ed Joyce’s ODI career for Ireland

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
28	883	116*	36.79	1	-	-	-	-

Ed Joyce’s World Cup career for Ireland

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
6	176	84	29.33	0	-	-	-	-

#3 9 - Rangana Herath (SL) - 36 Years and 332 Days

Rangana Herath has been highly consistent since Muttiah Muralitharan’s retirement, and he forms the spin duo with Sachithra Senanayake for Sri Lanka in this World Cup.

After making his international debut, the left-arm spinner had to wait for more than a decade to play his first World Cup match, in 2011. He is the ninth-oldest player going into the World Cup.

Rangana Herath’s ODI career for Sri Lanka

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
67	127	17*	9.07	0	71	4/20	31.07	0

Rangana Herath’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
4	4	4*	-	0	3	2/46	41.33	0

Herath did not have a great last World Cup, but he will be looking to turn things around this time.

#4 8 - Younis Khan (Pak) - 37 Years and 77 Days

Younis Khan made a comeback into the ODI side recently, with the selectors showing faith in him for the World Cup seeing the conditions and his experience. He is 37 but has been scoring runs in Tests at an amazing average. The right-hander is the eighth-oldest player in this World Cup.

Younis Khan’s ODI career for Pakistan

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
261	7197	144	31.56	7	3	1/3	96	0

Younis Khan’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
16	306	72	23.53	0	0	-	-	0

#5 7 - Kumar Sangakkara (SL) - 37 Years and 110 Days

Kumar Sangakkara, at 37 years and 110 days, looks as good as he has ever been. He will be retiring from ODI cricket after the ICC World Cup 2015 and, therefore, would like to end his career on a high.

His experience of playing nearly 400 ODIs and appearing in three previous World Cups should be handy for Sri Lanka to win the title who ended as the runner-ups in the previous two editions.

Kumar Sangakkara’s ODI career for Sri Lanka

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
390	13434	169	40.95	21	-	-	-	-

Kumar Sangakkara’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
30	991	111	45.04	1	-	-	-	-

#6 6 - Brad Haddin (Aus) - 37 Years and 114 Days

Brad Haddin will don the wicket-keeping duties for Australia in this World Cup. He has been consistent with the bat of late, and his experience will come in handy for the home team, especially in the possible absence of James Faulkner lower down the order.

Haddin will be the sixth-oldest player in the World Cup.

Brad Haddin’s ODI career for Australia

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
118	2996	110	31.2	2	-	-	-	-

Brad Haddin’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
7	332	88	55.33	0	-	-	-	-

#7 5 - Mahela Jayawardene (SL) - 37 Years and 263 Days

Mahela Jayawardene is the most experieced player in ODIs at present with more than 400 ODIs. He along with Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan will be playing for the last time in a World Cup, and they would like to put all their efforts in winning the trophy and end their career on high.

Jayawardene is 37 now and will be the fifth-oldest player in this World Cup.

Mahela Jayawardene’s ODI career for Sri Lanka

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
436	12256	144	33.12	17	8	2/56	68	0

Mahela Jayawardene’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
33	975	115*	37.5	3	2	Feb-56	65.5	0

#8 4 - Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL) - 38 Years and 123 Days

Tillakaratne Dilshan is the oldest Sri Lankan player in the current squad ageing 38+ – more than that of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

He is the fourth-oldest player in this World Cup and has had a great series with the bat against New Zealand in New Zealand recently. The Sri Lankan trio is at its best at the moment, and it is understandable that the fans expect the ultimate trophy from them.

Dilshan was the highest run-getter in the last edition.

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s ODI career for Sri Lanka

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
307	9401	160*	39	20	97	4/4	44.41	0

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
20	717	144	47.8	2	13	4/4	21.84	0

#9 3 - Misbah-ul-Haq (Pak) - 40 Years and 262 Days

Misbah-ul-Haq, who has got better and better with age, will be leading Pakistan for one final time in the World Cup. At 40, he will be the third-oldest player this edition and oldest ever captain for a Test playing nation in World Cups.

He has announced that he will retire from international cricket after this edition, and fans will be expecting him to repeat Imran Khan’s feat, which he did at the age of 39, in the 1992 World Cup.

Misbah-ul-Haq’s ODI career for Pakistan

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
155	4772	96*	42.99	0	0	-	-	0

Misbah-ul-Haq’s World Cup career

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5
8	248	83*	49.6	0	-	-	-	-

#10 2 - Mohammad Tauqir (UAE) - 43 Years and 31 Days

The second oldest player this time is the skipper of the United Arab Emirates – Mohammad Tauqir. He ages just more than 43. He will also become the oldest player to captain a side in World Cups beating Netherlands’ skipper Steven Lubbers who captained at the age of 42 years and 347 days in 1996.

Mohammad Tauqir’s ODI career for the UAE:

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
5	87	55	21.75	0	4	2/47	38	0

The whole UAE squad including Tauqir does not any have World Cup experience, as they haven’t qualified for the tournament since 1996.

#11 1 - Khurram Khan (UAE) - 43 Years and 238 Days

Khurram Khan of the United Arab Emirates is the oldest player in the World Cup. He will be 43 years and 238 days as on February 14.

He is already the oldest to score an ODI century and is in good batting form as well.

Khurram Khan’s ODI career for the UAE

Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	100	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Av	5WH
10	427	132*	53.37	1	12	4/35	31.66	0