Youngest Test cricketers in history, Many countries that play test cricket are ready to throw young and upcoming talent into the deep end because they adhere to the tenet that “if they are good enough, they are of legal age to play the match.” Many of cricket’s best players made their debuts in test matches while still in their youth. You will read about a few cricketers in this post who began playing Test cricket at a very young age.
1. Hasan Raza (of Pakistan)
Hasan Raza made his Test cricket debut for Pakistan at the age of just 14. His Test career never really took off after he played his maiden Test in 1996 against Zimbabwe. Raza played his seventh and final Test against England in 2005, despite holding the record for most runs in first-class cricket.
Raza is one of the Pakistani cricket players whose career faltered after an outstanding start, despite being one of the youngest debutants ever (although Pakistan revoked the claim after a controversy broke up).
After some struggle, he was eventually brought back into the household circles. In the home series against Australia in Sharjah, he made a return and delivered half-centuries in response, appearing to position himself for a protracted stay in the national squad.
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2. Sachin Tendulkar [India]
One of the greatest and most renowned cricketers of all time, Sachin Tendulkar, sometimes known as “The Little Master,” began his playing career when he was just a little child.
When he made his Test debut at the age of 16, he was a phenomenon who carried all the aspirations and expectations of a nation on his shoulders with effortless ease. He scored four half-centuries in his first eight test matches against England at Old Trafford, and he hasn’t looked back since.
In addition, Sachin Tendulkar achieved three figures in Test cricket at the youngest age ever. He delighted audiences all over the world for 23 years, and Tendulkar finished his illustrious career with 200 Test caps, the most of any player.
In addition, he has the most runs scored in both Test cricket (15,921 runs) and ODIs (18,426 runs). He also has the distinction of scoring more hundreds in cricket than any other player. He had 49 ODI centuries and 51 Test centuries.
3. Mushtaq Mohammad [Pakistan]
Mushtaq Mohammad of Pakistan is recognized as an exceptional all-rounder who excelled in both first-class and test cricket. He distinguished himself from those who came after Mushtaq by displaying his talent in tests at a young age. He made an enduring impression in India during the 5-Test series in 1960 after defeating the West Indies in 1959.
Before turning 17 and becoming the player with the youngest Test cricket 100-run total, Mohammad scored 61 runs in his fourth match. He produced a song that was played for 40 years. In 57 Test matches, Mushtaq scored 3643 runs, achieved 9 further centuries, and had a batting average of 39.17. He was a standout performer for Northamptonshire in first-class cricket.
He amassed 31,091 runs, 72 centuries, a batting average of 42.07, and 303 runs without being out. He captained the Northants during the 1976 Gillette Cup competition, guiding the team to their first-ever trophy. Mushtaq Mohammad played the leg spinner who had some great variations despite the fact that he was an outstanding hitter.
He got 79 wickets in the Tests, and his bowling average was 29.22. That falls about ten runs short of his hitting average. Mushtaq had a stellar first-class cricket record as a lead spinner, with 936 wickets, 39 five-wicket innings, and bowled an average of 24.34. Mushtaq Muhammad excelled in all facets of the game of cricket.
4. Talha Jubair [of Bangladesh]
With his 16-year-old debut, Talha Jubair became Bangladesh’s youngest-ever Test player. After dismissing Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu, he had a great start in a Test match. He was nonetheless one of those athletes who found it difficult to secure a long-term spot in the Bangladesh cricket squad. Jubair’s last Test match was his at the age of 18.
5. Nasim-Ul-Ghani (of Pakistan)
Nasim-ul-Ghani was thought to be the game’s youngest Test player ever when he made his debut at the age of 16. His debut was undoubtedly successful. As a leg-arm spinner against the West Indies, he made his first Test appearance among notable players like Everton Weekes, Rohan Kanhai, Clyde Walcott, and Garfield Sobers. After hitting a century against England in 1962, he played 28 more times for Pakistan and had his name added to the “Lord’s Honor Board.”
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6. Naseem Shah (Pakistan)
He made his Test debut at age 16 and had an outstanding first-class record. Shah is a really quick bowler, with 27 first-class wickets and a 16.66 bowling average. In October 2019, he made his professional debut against the formidable Aussie.
7. Enamul Haque Jr [of Bangladesh]
Enamul, who made his Test cricket debut for Bangladesh at the age of 16, had been in and out of the lineup for ten years. Haque, a superb left-arm spinner, found it difficult to translate his stellar first-class record into consistent success in the game’s longest format. He participated in 15 Test matches for Bangladesh, where he recorded 44 wickets at a bowling average of 40.61.
8. Aaqib Javed [Pakistan]
At the age of 16, Pakistan’s outstanding bowler, Aaqib Javed, made his Test debut. This demonstrates unequivocally that he made his first-class cricket debut at the age of only 12. Javed had a fruitful career, taking more than 200 wickets for his nation and helping Pakistan win the 1992 World Cup.
