The expendables of international cricket

Somachandra de Silva – Like Traicos, Somachandra de Silva’s story is an unfortunate one of “too late, too little”. De Silva was the best Test spinner Sri Lanka had produced before Muralitharan but he was already 33 when Sri Lanka got a chance to play in the first World Cup. He continued to plug away for them over the years and was a part of their historic victory over India in the 1979 World Cup.

In 1982, Sri Lanka was given Test match status and de Silva got the opportunity to play Test cricket at the age of 40. He made the most of his limited opportunities – be it taking Sri Lanka’s first Test five-for against Pakistan en route to 17 wickets in three Tests or scoring two fifties as captain in New Zealand. He continued to play cricket late into his 43^rd year and finally bowed out of international cricket at the World Championship of Cricket in Australia in 1985.

Notable mentions

Bob Taylor – Understudy to Alan Knott for over a decade, Taylor came into his own as a wicketkeeper of prominence in his early forties and stayed on till he was almost 43.

Clive Rice – A bulwark of South African cricket in his prime and in their isolation years, Rice was given the captaincy of the team at 42 on their return to international cricket in 1992. This was a mere formality as months later he was deemed as too old to take them to the World Cup.

Fred Titmus – A master of off-spin, Titmus seemed to have ended his career against West Indies in Jamaica at the age of 36 in 1968. He was recalled for the 1974-75 Ashes Down Under where he took 4 for 107 at Melbourne. He followed that up with 3 for 53 at Wellington in his debut and final ODI series against New Zealand.

Bob Simpson – Having played what seemed like his last Test at 32 against India in 1968, Simpson came back 10 years later to helm a new look Australian side stung by the Packer exits. His captaincy and competency of playing spin gave Australia the edge as they narrowly edged out India 3-2 before sobering up to a 3-1 defeat in the Caribbean.

Colin Cowdrey – Another of England’s post war greats, Cowdrey was recalled along with Titmus for the 74-75 Ashes at the age of 42. It was a chastening experience though as he could only manage a highest score of 35 in the five Tests.