10 of the oldest debutants in cricket

#6 Norman Gifford 43 years, 359 days

Gifford has played more than twice as many first-class matches as List-A games

Norman Gifford became the second-oldest ODI debutant when he made his ODI debut in 1985, 25 years after he began his first-class career. His ODI debut more than 20 years after his Test debut and 11 years after his last Test for England in 1973.

His short stint in ODI Cricket was an impressive one. A slow left arm bowler and left-handed batsmen, he played 2 matches and took 4 wickets at an average of 19, with his best figures being 4/23and an economy rate of just 2.5.

His first class career stretched for over 28 years in which he played 710 matches taking 2048 wickets at an average of 23.56. He also played 397 List-A matches taking taking 443 wickets at an average of 26.

Gifford was known for finding turn at almost any surface despite bowling rather fast for a spinner. Unfortunate to be born at a time such that for most part of his career, he couldn’t find a place in the side because of Tony Lock and later because of Derek Underwood, who were England’s first choice spinners. He later went on to become a part time bowling coach for Worcestershire, the county side that he captained for 9 seasons.