Portugal's 64-year-old Child becomes second-oldest T20I debutant

Joanna Child created history on 7 April at Albergaria by making her T20I debut at the age of 64, becoming the second oldest debutant I this format. The Portugal pacer achieved the historic feat in the three-match series against Norway.

Child who had a modest outing in her maiden international game, scoring just two runs with the bat, was lauded for her passion for the game at this age. Notably, she surpassed the likes of Andrew Brownlee (62 years, 145 days) from the Falkland Islands and Mally Moore (62 years, 25 days) from the Cayman Islands. Only Gibraltar’s Sally Barton, who made her T20I debut at 66 years and 334 days, stands ahead of Joanna on the all-time list of oldest T20I debutants.

Portugal managed to defend their total of 110 in the first match. Joanna retained her place in the side for the next two games as well. In the second T20I, she was handed the ball and bowled four deliveries, conceding 11 runs. She did not bat in either of the final two games.

While she had a quiet series, with two runs with the bat and four balls bowled across three matches, and Portugal going on to win the series 2-1, many called her out for inspiring the new generation. In a team that also featured teenage talents like 15-year-old Ishreet Cheema and 16-year-olds Mariam Waseem and Afsheen Ahmed, Joanna showed that age is just a number.

Oldest debutants in T20Is

Sally Barton – 66 years and 334 days

Joanna Child – 64-year-old

Andrew Brownlee – 62 years, 145 days

Cayman’s Mally Moore – 62 years, 25 days