Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Asif Afridi made history on Wednesday by claiming a five-wicket haul on his Test debut against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, breaking a 92-year-old record.
Afridi, 38 years and 301 days old, became the oldest cricketer to take five wickets, on Test debut, surpassing England’s Charles Marriott, who set the record in 1933 at 37 years and 332 days.
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The spinner’s impressive performance saw him dismiss Tristan Stubbs, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, and Simon Harmer, marking a remarkable start to his Test career.
Only four cricketers over 35 have ever taken a five-wicket haul on their Test debut. Alongside Afridi and Marriott, the list features Hines Johnson from the West Indies, who achieved it against England in 1948, and England’s D.W. Carr, who did so against Australia back in 1909.
Afridi is the only bowler to reach this milestone after turning 38, while the others did so after turning 37. Among Pakistani players, Noman Ali claimed five wickets on his debut at 34 against South Africa in 2021, and Bilal Asif achieved it at 33.
