It’s great to hear stories of kids in their teenage years making the move to international cricket. We talk about how they’ve begun early and risen through the ranks. However, we often miss out on glorifying those who have begun late but still managed to scale the highest peaks in terms of playing at the international level.
We’ve brought to you now a story of a 37-year old bowling all-rounder from Pretoria who went on to make his Test debut and overall South Africa international debut when most people have already hung up their boots. We’re talking about Shaun von Berg who didn’t play a single game for South Africa till the age of 37 years and 150 days; until he was handed his Test cap today!
Shaun von Berg debut for South Africa
South Africa announced a second string team for their 2024 tour of New Zealand and in the 1st Test, there were 6 debutants including a new captain. von Berg wasn’t a part of the playing eleven in the first game but made his debut in the 2nd Test which began today, 13th Feb 2024, at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. With doing so, he’s broken multiple records.
Shaun von Berg is making his debut with William O’Rourke. The gap in their birth year is 15 years.
That is the highest for any test debutants after 2nd world war where it is not the 1st test for a country.
— From the Pavilion End (@FromPavilionEnd) February 12, 2024
He became the 6th oldest cricketer to make a Test debut since 1955 and also the second oldest after Ed Joyce in 2018, to make a test debut this millennium. His First Class stats at the time of the Shaun von Berg debut for South Africa included 477 wickets with a whopping 27 5-wicket hauls and also 5 occasions when he picked up 10 wickets in a single game.
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He comes into the side at a time when all of the senior South Africa Test playing cricketers are busy with SA20 and ILT20 contracts, playing T20 cricket across the world. It presented a great opportunity for other players who have not managed to make it to national colours for a long time. South Africa lost the 1st Test by a massive margin of 281 runs.
This dude named “Shaun von Berg” is making his Test debut at damn 37. pic.twitter.com/bwDdxXD828
— Akif (@glazedakif) February 12, 2024
At 37Y5M Shaun Von Berg is South Africa’s 5th oldest test debutant following ;
Omar Henry 40Y10M
Geoff Chubb 40Y2M
Jimmy Cook 39Y3M
Johnny Lindsay 38Y9M— Grant (@grantbn6) February 12, 2024
von Berg comes into the side with a batting ability as well, smashing 5 FC tons in his career so far, including a best of 110* and a batting average of nearly 30. What a proud moment it must for the spinner who will want to impress in his first game for the country, and maybe ensure this isn’t the only match he plays at the international level.
On the other hand, New Zealand also awarded a debut to one player, in 22-year old William ORourke, with there being a 15-year difference between these two debutants. For similar cricketing updates from around the world, remember to always stay tuned to www.ReadScoops.com.
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