Craig Ervine, 41, becomes oldest Zimbabwean to hit a Test hundred
Synopsis
At 41 years and 82 days, Craig Ervine struck his fifth Test hundred in Sharjah on 9 November, edging out teammate Brendan Taylor — who had set the same record just innings earlier — to become the oldest Zimbabwean ever to score a Test century. Only Misbah-ul-Haq, in 2016, was older when hitting a Test hundred this century.
Key Takeaways
Craig Ervine , aged 41 years and 82 days , became the oldest Zimbabwean to score a Test hundred on 9 November 2026 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium .
Ervine broke the record set by Brendan Taylor — also during the same first Test against Afghanistan .
He is the second oldest batter to hit a Test hundred in the 21st century, behind Misbah-ul-Haq (42y 47d vs England, 2016).
Ervine also completed 2,000 Test runs in the match, becoming the seventh Zimbabwean to reach the milestone.
Taylor scored 131 and Bennett 128 in Zimbabwe's first-innings total of 504 ; Afghanistan replied with 514 , led by Rahmat Shah's 173 .
The match was heading for a draw with Zimbabwe at 372/5 at tea on Day 5 .
Craig Ervine etched his name into cricket history on 9 November 2026 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, becoming the oldest Zimbabwean player ever to score a Test century — surpassing a record set by his own teammate in the very same match. The milestone arrived during the second innings of the opening Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Test, with Ervine aged 41 years and 82 days at the time of the feat.
The Record and Its Significance
Ervine's fifth Test hundred displaced Brendan Taylor from the top of Zimbabwe's age-at-century list — a record Taylor himself had only just established during the first innings of the same fixture. Ervine also holds the distinction of being the second oldest batter to hit a Test hundred in the 21st century, sitting behind only Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq, who was 42 years and 47 days old when he struck 114 against England at Lord's in 2016.
Taylor's Record-Breaking First Innings
The match had already produced remarkable batting milestones before Ervine's knock. Taylor scored a commanding 131 off 168 balls in Zimbabwe's first innings as the Chevrons posted 504, with skipper Brian Bennett also contributing a fluent 128 and Wessly Madhevere adding a half-century. That innings briefly made Taylor the oldest Zimbabwean Test centurion — before Ervine overtook him in the second innings.
Zimbabwe's 2,000-Run Milestone and Afghanistan's Reply
Ervine's second-innings hundred came alongside another personal landmark: he completed 2,000 Test runs during the same match, making him the seventh Zimbabwean batter to reach the milestone. Afghanistan's reply was equally historic, as Sediqullah Atal (105), Rahmanullah Zadran (113), and captain Rahmat Shah (173) all struck centuries in a total of 514, giving Afghanistan a 10-run first-innings lead.
Match Situation: Draw Likely
With Zimbabwe reaching 372 for 5 at tea on Day 5 of the second innings — Taylor contributing 82, Bennett 58, Ervine his century, and Antum Naqvi 62 — the match appeared headed for a draw. Only one session remained on the final day, leaving insufficient time for a result. This is the first Test of the series between the two sides at Sharjah.
Point of View
Compressing a generational milestone into two innings. At 41, Ervine's longevity challenges the conventional wisdom that Test-quality run-scoring is a young batter's game, particularly for a nation like Zimbabwe that has had limited Test exposure over the past decade. The fact that this unfolded in a match where Afghanistan also produced three centurions — including a 173 from Rahmat Shah — underlines that this fixture, far from being a mismatch, was one of the more batting-rich Tests of the year. The draw outcome should not overshadow the records; this match will be a significant footnote in the cricket histories of both nations.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Craig Ervine set in the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Test?
Craig Ervine became the oldest Zimbabwean to score a Test century, achieving the feat at the age of 41 years and 82 days during the second innings of the first Test against Afghanistan in Sharjah on 9 November 2026. It was his fifth Test hundred.
Who previously held the record for the oldest Zimbabwean Test centurion?
Brendan Taylor held the record briefly after scoring 131 in the first innings of the same match, before Craig Ervine surpassed him in the second innings of the identical fixture.
Where does Ervine rank globally among the oldest Test centurions?
Ervine is the second oldest batter to score a Test hundred in the 21st century. Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq remains the oldest, having scored 114 against England at Lord's in 2016 when he was 42 years and 47 days old.
What other milestone did Ervine reach in the same match?
Ervine completed 2,000 Test runs during the same match, making him the seventh Zimbabwean batter to reach that landmark.
What was the result of the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan first Test in Sharjah?
The match was heading for a draw, with Zimbabwe at 372 for 5 at tea on Day 5 of the second innings. With only one session left and no realistic path to a result, a draw appeared certain.
