Misbah-ul-Haq: Age is just a number

Although Misbah is still considering retiring from Test cricket, he is proving that age is just a number as he is on the verge of joining a very elite club. Misbah needs just 218 more runs to become the fourth cricketer in Test history to score 1,000 runs after turning 40. If he achieves this feat, he will be the first non-Englishman to do so. To date, Sir Jack Hobbs, Patsy Hendren and Tom Graveney are the only batsman to score 1,000 after their 40th birthday.

Well luckily for him he is not a West Indian because the board would have forced him into retirement for being too old like they did Shiv. 

Shiv's average in the six matches he has played against the top 8 countries in the world since turning 40 is just 16.63 - the worst average by any batsman after the age of 40. For comparison, Misbah's average is 48.15 - fourth best. Comparing the two is slightly unfair to Misbah.

In saying that, it is a testamant to the longevity of both Misbah and Shiv - they are the only players this decade to have played in Test matches after their 40th birthday. The only other batsmen since 1980 to have played a minimum of 5 Test matches after turning 40 are Geoffrey Boycott, Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart and Bob Taylor.

maybe we should look at both ages at  DEBUT 

Test debut

New Zealand v Pakistan at Auckland, Mar 8-12, 2001 scorecard

Test debut West Indies v England at Georgetown, Mar 17-22, 1994 scorecard

Good point, Ketch. Misbah didn't make his Test debut until he was 26. You have to wonder if that has allowed him to still stay fresh and has contributed to him still playing at such a high level. Shiv debuted at 19, that is an extra 7 years of wear and tear.

Misbah gets the 218 runs needed and becomes the first non-Englishman to score 1,000 Test runs after the age of 40. That is some achievement. His average after the age of 40 is 48.80.

The PCB has urged Misbah to delay any retirement plans and lead the Pakistan team on their tours of England and Australia next year. Aamer Sohail, talking on Sky Sports during the second Test, seemed certain that Misbah would captain the team next year in England, although publicly Misbah has admitted uncertainty as to whether he will carry on.

www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-england-...nt/story/934883.html

Thats all it is ....a number 


Bat On, Misbah 

Well the Pakistani cricket board is now begging for him not to retire after the current England series and stay till next year when they play two series. He will be 42 next year and he is still doing well so I don't know why Shiv has been discarded by the wicb.