The oldest and the youngest of the World Cup

some interesting facts on the players

Javed Miandad first came into international prominence when as a 17 year old school-boy he appeared for the first time for Pakistan against the West Indies at Birmingham in the 1975 World Cup. At 17 years and 364 days he had then become the youngest to appear in a World Cup match. He scored a quick 24 in 32 balls (with 2 fours) and had figures of 1 for 46 in 12 overs with his right arm leg-breaks. His first victim being the West Indian captain Clive Lloyd whom he had caught behind by Wasim Bari. He also held one catch. It all seemed a perfect debut for the teenager, until the West Indian last pair of Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts took them to an epic victory by adding 64 unbeaten runs for the tenth wicket with just two balls to spare.

On the very same day, on 11 June, 1975, another player representing East Africa Don Pringle, made his first appearance in the World Cup as a right arm medium pace bowler against India at Leeds. He was then 43 years and 42 days. He thus became the then oldest player to appear in the World Cup. Pringle however had the misfortune of being the first World Cup cricketer to die. He met with a fatal car accident just three months after the World Cup. His son Derek, later appeared for England in Tests and One-dayers and also in 1987 and 1992 World Cups.

The record for the youngest World Cup player goes to Sri Lankan all-rounder Sudath Prajiv Pasqual who at the age of 17 years and 238 days made his first appearance against New Zealand at Nottingham in the 1979 edition. This still remains the World Cup record.

Don Pringle held the record for nearly 21 years, until his record was surpassed by a Dutch player of West Indian origin. Nolan Clarke, formerly from Barbados, was 47 years and 241 days when he made his debut for Holland against New Zealand at Baroda in the 1996 World Cup. Clarke thus became the oldest to make an appearance in an one-day international. The previous ODI record was held by Zimbabwe's John Traicos who was 45 years and 313 days when he made his last appearance for his country against India at Pune in March, 1993.

Interestingly, in the same match in which Clarke made his debut at Baroda, two other Dutch players- Flavian Aponso (a Sri Lankan) and West Indian born Steve Lubbers, made their debut. They were all over the age of 42 years. Lubbers who led Holland in the match became the oldest to skipper a World Cup side.

YOUNGEST PLAYERS TO MAKE DEBUT

Age	Player	Country	v Country	Venue	Date
17 yrs & 238 days	SP Pasqual	Sri Lanka	v N Zealand	Nottingham	09-06-79
17 yrs & 283 days	T Odoyo	Kenya	v India	Cuttack	18-02-96
17 yrs & 364 days	Javed Miandad	Pakistan	v West Indies	Birmingham	11-06-75
18 yrs & 305 days	SR Tendulkar	India	v England	Perth	22-02-92
18 yrs & 351 days	B Zuiderent	Holland	v N Zealand	Baroda	17-02-96

OLDEST PLAYERS TO MAKE DEBUT

Age	Player	Country	v Country	Venue	Date
47 yrs & 241 days	NE Clarke	Holland	v N Zealand	Baroda	17-02-96
43 yrs & 113 days	GJAF Aponso	Holland	v N Zealand	Baroda	17-02-96
43 yrs & 42 days	DJ Pringle	E Africa	v India	Leeds	11-06-75
42 yrs & 329 days	SW Lubbers	Holland	v N Zealand	Baroda	17-02-96
42 yrs	PG Nana	E Africa	v N Zealand	Birmingham	07-06-75
40 yrs & 39 days	O Henry	S Africa	v S Lanka	Wellington	02-03-92

OLDEST PLAYERS TO APPEAR IN A WORLD CUP MATCH

Age	Player	Country	v Country	Venue	Date
47 yrs & 258 days	NE Clarke	Holland	v South Africa	Rawalpindi	05-03-96
44 yrs & 306 days	AJ Traicos	Zimbabwe	v England	Albury	18-03-92