For others, the wait for recognition at the highest level can be a longer one; we’re here to celebrate those men who had to wait quite some time for their opportunity, but went on to make it count.

This XI is made up of players who debuted in Test cricket this century after turning 30. Most of them went on to enjoy distinguished careers; a few are still plying their trade but have made a solid impression so far.

Chris Rogers – Australia

25 Tests, 2,015 runs @ 42.87

After making his Test debut against India in 2008, Rogers had to wait five years for Australia to come calling once again. With nearly a decade’s worth of experience in county cricket in the bank, the organised left-hander slotted in at the top of the order for the 2013 Ashes and celebrated a maiden Test hundred just weeks ahead of his 36th birthday. Two more centuries followed when Australia regained the urn only months later, and Rogers kept going until the end of the 2015 Ashes, signing off as the second-highest run-scorer in the series.

Abid Ali – Pakistan

6 Tests, 460 runs @ 57.50

Still just six Tests into his career, Abid made his debut when Test cricket returned to Pakistan in 2019 after a 10-year hiatus. Abid – who earlier that year had hit a century on his ODI debut – repeated the trick against the red ball, scoring an unbeaten 109 in the first Test against Sri Lanka before hitting a 174 in the second. The returns have dried up since then, but it’s been a promising start for a first-class veteran.

Mike Hussey – Australia

79 Tests, 6,235 runs @ 51.52

The most illustrious name on this list, Mike Hussey broke into Australia’s all-conquering Test side months after turning 30 and enjoyed a stunning opening run: after 20 Tests he had eight centuries and an average of 84.80 to his name, and been a part of a 5-0 Ashes win. While leaner times would follow, Hussey bowed out of in style at the start of 2013, hitting three Test tons in his final home summer.

Adam Voges – Australia

20 Tests, 1,485 runs @ 61.87

Despite making his limited-overs debuts in 2007, Adam Voges had to wait till 2015 for a Baggy Green, and his impact was both immediate and historic. An unbeaten 130 against West Indies was a match-winning contribution and made Voges the oldest man to record a ton in his first Test. While a lean Ashes series followed, consecutive scores of 269*, 106* and 239 in the subsequent home summer took Voges’ average to a colossal 97.46 after 14 Tests. Only Don Bradman and Steve Smith have higher averages among batsmen to have played at least 20 Tests.

Kevin O’Brien – Ireland

3 Tests, 258 runs @ 51.60

O’Brien had to wait till he was 34 for a Test cap, but not because he hadn’t done enough to impress the selectors. Ireland’s acquisition of Full Member status in 2017 meant they were finally granted entry into the Test arena and O’Brien sparkled in their maiden outing in 2018, hitting a century against Pakistan at Malahide. A half-century followed against Afghanistan in 2019 and, at this moment in time, O’Brien leads Ireland’s run-scoring charts in Test cricket.

Colin de Grandhomme – New Zealand

24 Tests, 1,185 runs @ 37.03 | 47 wickets @ 31.63

A hard-hitting all-rounder (his Test strike rate is an impressive 81.72), de Grandhomme has been a key part of New Zealand’s Test set-up since a standout debut in 2016: he took 6-41 in Pakistan’s first innings to set up an eight-wicket victory and bank the Player-of-the-Match award. After 24 Tests he holds the statistic each all-rounder craves: to average more with the bat than the ball.

Brad Haddin (wk) – Australia

66 Tests, 3,266 runs @ 32.98 | 262 catches, 8 stumpings

Haddin had the unenviable task of following Adam Gilchrist as Australia’s gloveman, but he certainly made a decent fist of it, carving out a 66-Test career and thriving in Ashes contests, where he averaged 41.39 with the bat. He was particularly effective in the 2013/14 series, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the series.

Dilruwan Perera – Sri Lanka

41 Tests, 156 wickets @ 35.33

Only Rangana Herath has more Test wickets for Sri Lanka since Perera made his debut in 2014. While he’s struggled away from home, Perera has been a tricky customer in Sri Lanka, with his standout performances coming against Australia (10-99 at Galle, 2016) and South Africa (10-78 at Galle, 2018).

Ryan Harris – Australia

27 Tests, 113 wickets @ 23.52

Injuries limited Harris’ impact on international cricket, but Australia will forever be grateful for the 12-Test run he strung together that begin in the 2013 Ashes and ended with a lion-hearted performance against South Africa at Cape Town, where his creaking body still had enough to deliver a series-sealing win.

Saeed Ajmal – Pakistan

35 Tests, 178 wickets @ 28.10

Ajmal arrived in Test cricket at the age of 32 and quickly became Pakistan’s premier match-winner in the first half of Misbah-ul-Haq’s reign as skipper, taking 10-wicket hauls against West Indies, England, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Questions over the legality of his action always lingered close by, however, and he never played Test cricket again after the ICC deemed it illegal in September 2014.

Stuart Clark – Australia

24 Tests, 94 wickets @ 23.86

A tall and accurate right-arm quick, Stuart Clark had a memorable first 12 months as a Test cricketer, taking 20 wickets at 15.85 against South Africa in his first series, before topping the wicket-taking charts in the 2006/07 Ashes.