The ongoing South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test match at the St George's Oval in Gqeberha sets a perfect example of the proverb: Age is just a number. Soon after the announcement of the playing XIs of both teams, the match entered the record books, even before the start of play.

Overall, there are 19 players who are aged 30 or more in the combined team of South Africa and Australia for this particular match. There are only a few instances in men's Test cricket when the total number of players' ages were thirty or thirty-plus.

Australia and South Africa create history in men's Test cricket

In the modern era of cricket, it is rare to see so many cricketers in their thirties playing in a high-octane match. While teams like India, England, and New Zealand are continuously pushing fresh talent to set a team for the future, Australia and South Africa are performing well over age.

According to the stats, in 1926 there were a total of twenty cricketers who were thirty or older when they played Australia in Nottingham. In five other matches, including the Gqeberha Test, 19 players in each game were in their thirties. Surprisingly, in all six matches, Australia is the common team.

Most players aged 30 or more in a men's Test match:

20 - England vs Australia at Nottingham, 1926
19 - Australia vs England at Sydney, 1921
19 - England vs Australia at Lord's, 1926
19 - England vs Australia at Leeds, 1926
19 - England vs Australia at Manchester, 1926
19- South Africa vs Australia at Gqeberha, 2026

Only three players aged below 30 among twenty-two

In the ongoing match, there are three players who are 37. Australia's Steve Smith and Scott Boland, and on the other side, Simon Harmer, representing South Africa, are 37. Boland is actually a backup bowler for the Australian National Cricket Team. He has been named for this match as a replacement for the spinner Nathan Lyon for tactical changes. Meanwhile, Lyon is 38. If he were named for his match, then he would be the oldest between these two teams.

In the Proteas' playing eleven, there are eight players who fit in the bracket, leaving out only Matthew Breetzke, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder, who are 27, 26 and 28, respectively. On the other hand, all of the eleven players Australia named for the match are in their thirties. Matt Renshaw, 30, who scored a century in the previous match in Durban, is the youngest player for Australia in this game.

Most players aged 30 or more in a men's Test match:

20 - ENG vs AUS at Nottingham, 1926
19 - AUS vs ENG at Sydney, 1921
19 - ENG vs AUS at Lord's, 1926
19 - ENG vs AUS at Leeds, 1926
19 - ENG vs AUS at Manchester, 1926
𝟭𝟵 - 𝗦𝗔 𝘃𝘀 𝗔𝗨𝗦 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗾𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮, 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀… pic.twitter.com/YgwgJ72afh

— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) October 18, 2026

List of all players in the South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test match who are 30 or older:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (32), Marques Ackerman (30), David Bedingham (32), Temba Bavuma (36), Ryan Rickelton (30), Simon Harmer (37), Anrich Nortje (32), Kagiso Rabada (31).

Australia: Nic Maddinson (34), Travis Head (32), Marnus Labuschagne (32), Steven Smith (37), Matt Renshaw (30), Alex Carey (35), Beau Webster (32), Pat Cummins (33), Mitchell Starc (36), Scott Boland (37), Josh Hazlewood (35).