Age is a quantifiable factor in sports. At 30 most people are said to be in their peak and that is where they hit their best and begin to settle down. By 35, the player is usually at his mature phase, and decisions on his career start to be made. Like Eoin Morgan did last well, many end up retiring by this age, while some try to push longer. There are still some though who continue to be very important parts of their side.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan for India

Rohit Sharma, at 35, is leading the Indian Team across formats. His debut comes back in 2007, and he is still around with a lot of experience behind him. As a captain, he is still needed heavily for India, and as an opener, there is a lot of importance given to him. He is still relied upon for long knocks, and the elegance that he brings is one that is tough to match.

Shikhar Dhawan is only on the side for one format, but he is an undisputed master there. He knows how to pace and ODI innings well and is probably one of the main reasons India has started approaching ODIs differently. Earlier, it was Dhawan who would start quickly, while Rohit paces his innings, settling down. With Dhawan still seen as a crucial player in the side, and scoring runs, India is able to field a settled opening pair in the 50-over format.

David Warner, Aaron FInch and Usman Khawaja for Australia

Australia’s openers across formats are of a similar age and each is still very important to the side. Usman Khawaja has just reignited his Test career after a strong Ashes showing and is back at the top of the order. His batting in the subcontinent has been so good, making him undroppable, especially with a lot of subcontinent tours ahead.

Aaron Finch is in the middle of some turbulence with his form. His captaincy though is still pretty good and is likely to carry him into the 2023 World Cup. As a batter, he is giving some decent knocks but it has been his captaincy that makes him an integral part of the Australian white-ball side.

David Warner though has been a fixture at the top for so many years in the Australian Cricket team. His partners have changed over the years, but he is still pretty solid at the top with his aggressive batting and running. Fitness-wise, David Warner is as good as ever, and he is still scoring runs at the top level, while constantly improving.

Martin Guptill for New Zealand

Like Shikhar Dhawan, Martin Guptill is only seen for the ODIs. His position though is never in question and his fielding is always at its best. He is still picking up blinders in the field and is manning areas that are usually very busy. His batting is as solid as ever. In his last four ODIs, he has a century and a half-century, to show that he can still bat long.

Angelo Mathews for Sri Lanka

Angelo Mathews’s career is one that has been disturbed by injury. Had it not been for his legs, he could have been one of the best all-rounders in the game. Today though, Angelo Mathews is past all his injuries. He is holding his side together well with the bat. With Sri Lanka struggling to find middle-order consistency, he has stood up nicely in the past to give some long innings. His presence gives the middle-order some strength, and that has been proven in the past, during the recent Bangladesh Tests.

Stuart Broad and James Anderson for England

A list of star players past their expected prime can never be completed without England’s duo. At nearly 40, James Anderson continues to be the best bowler in England, swinging the ball like a master. He is still bagging five-fors and is adapting well enough to find ways to take wickets even in Australia. He had decent Ashes and a strong home summer.

Along with Anderson, Stuart Broad is still out doing his best. He is pushing 36 but is still bowling with a decent pace and getting some nice bounce. His wickets may have dropped off late but the aggression is still there to keep him in the side.

Shakib Al Hasan, Musfhfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah for Bangladesh

Since 2007, Bangladesh has had four players carry them across formats for a good decade and a half. To their happiness, those four are still around while three of them are past 35. The three are still the best in their players. We have Shakib Al Hasan leading the Test side, he is still one of the best all-rounders in the World, doing the job for his side with both bat and ball. Mushfiqur Rahim is still as cheeky as ever and is a very reliable lower-order batter. Mahmudullah is retired from Tests but he still leads in T20 Cricket and is a very good finisher.