Craig Ervine, 41, becomes Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion, ends 206 not out
By Elena D’SouzaStartups & Innovation Correspondent, Peepals Global
File photo: TheCricketer (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Craig Ervine, 41 years and 82 days, became Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion on 9 November 2026 and finished 206 not out as the Sharjah Test was drawn.
What Happened
Craig Ervine became the oldest Zimbabwe batter to score a Test century when he reached three figures on the fifth day of the first Test against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday, 9 November 2026. Ervine, aged 41 years and 82 days, went on to finish unbeaten on 206 in Zimbabwe's second innings. The match, played from 5 to 9 November, ended in a draw after more than 1,500 runs were scored.
Key Facts
- Craig Ervine became Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion at 41 years and 82 days, on 9 November 2026.
- He broke the record set earlier in the same match by Brendan Taylor, who scored 131 in Zimbabwe's first innings.
- Ervine finished 206 not out; Wessly Madhevere was 100 not out as Zimbabwe reached 523 for 5 in their second innings.
- It was Ervine's fifth Test century, drawing him level with Hamilton Masakadza for the most Test hundreds by a Zimbabwe batter.
- Several reports say only Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq has been older among men to score a Test century this century.
- Zimbabwe made 504 in their first innings and Afghanistan replied with 514, a lead of 10.
- The match produced six centuries and one double century; Brendan Taylor, who also made 82 in the second innings, was named player of the match.
Why It Matters
Ervine's innings shows that experience still counts in five-day cricket, especially on a slow, flat pitch where patience matters more than power. To keep batting until he reached a double century on the last day, at 41, required both concentration and fitness.
The record also shows how Zimbabwe's senior players have carried their Test side. The two oldest centurions in the country's history both scored hundreds in this one match: Taylor in the first innings and Ervine in the second. For a team that plays few Test matches a year, having experienced batters who can bat for long periods is valuable, and Ervine's fifth hundred puts him alongside Hamilton Masakadza at the top of Zimbabwe's list.
The match itself said a lot about the conditions. With Zimbabwe scoring 504 and 523 for 5 and Afghanistan 514, bowlers on both sides struggled to take wickets, and a result was never likely. Matches like this can help batting averages but give little to the bowlers, and the scores in Sharjah are likely to draw attention to the pitch.
Peepals calculation: The three completed or partial innings added up to 1,541 runs (504 + 514 + 523). Ervine's unbeaten 206 alone was about 39% of Zimbabwe's second-innings total (206 ÷ 523 ≈ 0.39). Together, Ervine and Madhevere's not-out scores of 206 and 100 made up about 59% of that innings (306 ÷ 523 ≈ 0.59). Our calculation from the reported figures.
| Innings | Score |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe, 1st innings | 504 |
| Afghanistan, 1st innings | 514 |
| Zimbabwe, 2nd innings | 523 for 5 (Ervine 206*, Madhevere 100*) |
| Result | Draw |
Impact
Short-term: Ervine's double century gives Zimbabwe a boost in confidence after a match in which they matched Afghanistan run for run. The batting records set in Sharjah will add to the conversation about the pitch.
Long-term: Ervine's form at 41 strengthens his place in Zimbabwe's Test side and may delay the team's handover to younger batters. If he scores again, he would hold Zimbabwe's record for the most Test hundreds on his own.
Who is affected: Zimbabwe's and Afghanistan's players and selectors, fans of Test cricket in both countries, and groundsmen and officials at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Key Takeaway
At 41 years and 82 days, Craig Ervine became Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion and finished 206 not out in a run-filled draw against Afghanistan in Sharjah on 9 November 2026.
Questions and Answers
How old was Craig Ervine when he scored his Test century?
Craig Ervine was 41 years and 82 days old when he scored his century against Afghanistan in Sharjah on 9 November 2026, making him Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion.
Whose record did Craig Ervine break?
He broke Brendan Taylor's record as Zimbabwe's oldest Test centurion, which Taylor had set earlier in the same match with 131 in the first innings.
What was the result of the Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe first Test in Sharjah?
The match ended in a draw. Zimbabwe scored 504 and 523 for 5, and Afghanistan scored 514, with more than 1,500 runs in total.
How many Test centuries has Craig Ervine scored?
The century in Sharjah was his fifth in Tests, equal to Hamilton Masakadza's total, the most by a Zimbabwe batter.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Elena D’Souza, Startups & Innovation CorrespondentCovers Start-ups & Opportunities and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Elena D’Souza
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Elena D’Souza is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
