This list highlights the five cricketers with the longest Test Cricket careers, showcasing their exceptional longevity and impact. From Wilfred Rhodes’ 30-year span to Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 24-year journey, these legends defied time and challenges to leave a lasting mark on the game with their skill, resilience, and passion.
5. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
India’s batting maestro was truly built different. Debuting at just 16 in 1989, Tendulkar signed off 24 years later as a global cricketing icon. The only man to play 200 Tests, he amassed a record 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, with 51 centuries and 68 fifties. From boy wonder to elder statesman, his career was nothing short of legendary.
4. George Headley (West Indies)
Though he only played 22 Tests, George Headley’s impact was monumental. Battling racism, two world wars, and limited opportunities, he still managed to score 2190 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 60.83. With 10 hundreds in just 40 innings, he earned the nickname “The Black Bradman.” Even with decades between appearances, Headley delivered every time.
3. Frank Woolley (England)
Cricket’s elegant all-rounder, Frank Woolley was poetry in motion. In 64 Tests, he scored 3283 runs, claimed 83 wickets, and was electric in the field. His Test Cricket career spanned over 25 years, and in all first-class cricket, he played more than 1000 matches, amassing 62,000+ runs. A tireless servant of the game in its most demanding era.
2. Brian Close (England)
England’s hard-as-nails warrior debuted at 18 and played his final Test Cricket just shy of 46. Despite appearing in just 22 Tests, Brian Close’s career spanned almost 27 years. Known for his fearless close-in fielding, especially at short leg, he soaked up blows without flinching. He scored 887 runs, but it was his grit and toughness that made him unforgettable.
1. Wilfred Rhodes (England)
The undisputed king of longevity, Wilfred Rhodes played 58 Test Cricket across four decades, from the 19th to the 20th century. He scored 2325 runs and took 127 wickets with his left-arm spin. Rhodes remains the oldest cricketer to ever play a Test match — at age 52 — and a symbol of cricket’s timeless charm.
