At 51 years and 171 days, Isle of Man off-spinner Joanne Hicks has become the oldest bowler, male or female, to claim a five-wicket haul in international cricket. She achieved the landmark against Greece in the fourth match of the Women’s Continental Cup 2026 at the Moara Vlasiei Cricket Ground in Ilfov County, Romania, on 27 August, producing career-best figures of 5 for 10 as the Isle of Man secured a nine-wicket victory.
Hicks’ spell was a masterclass in control and persistence. Operating as a right-arm off-spinner, she ran through Greece’s batting order with remarkable efficiency, conceding just 10 runs in her four overs while completing five dismissals. Her intervention reduced Greece to 52 all out in 15 overs, leaving the Isle of Man with a modest target of 53 that was chased down inside the Powerplay for the loss of only one wicket.
The performance also earned Hicks the Player of the Match award and marked her third five-wicket haul in T20I cricket. More significantly, it represented the finest bowling performance of her Isle of Man career in the format, a fitting reward for a cricketer whose international journey began much later than most.
Hicks made her international debut at the age of 47, nearly half a century after beginning her life away from the international spotlight. Four years later, she has transformed herself into one of the most distinctive figures in women’s cricket, proving that experience, discipline and a deep understanding of the game can remain decisive even at an age when most players have long retired.
Her latest figures took her tally to 36 wickets in 26 bowling innings across 29 matches in the format. She now averages 10.08 and operates at an economy rate of 4.12, with one four-wicket haul and three five-wicket hauls to her name. The record Hicks broke had stood for 96 years and belonged to Australian Bert Ironmonger. The left-arm spinner took five wickets against South Africa in 1932 at the age of 49 years and 314 days. On that same day, Ironmonger registered figures of 5 for 6 and 6 for 18 as South Africa were dismissed for 36 and 45 in an innings defeat. He finished his Test career in 1933 at 50 years and 327 days and remains the second-oldest Test cricketer ever.
Hicks had already rewritten the women’s record in 2024, when she claimed five-wicket hauls against Greece and Malta within six days. Her effort against Greece at 49 years and 168 days made her the oldest woman to achieve the feat at the time. She has now moved beyond that mark, and beyond the entire history of international cricket.
The five oldest bowlers to claim five-wicket hauls in international cricket are Joanne Hicks, aged 51 years and 171 days for the Isle of Man against Greece in a Women’s T20I in 2026 featured three times in the list; Bert Ironmonger, aged 49 years and 314 days for Australia against South Africa in the second Test in 1932; Ironmonger again, aged 49 years and 234 days against South Africa in 1931; Hicks, aged 49 years and 168 days against Greece in a Women’s T20I in 2024; and Hicks, aged 49 years and 162 days against Malta in a Women’s T20I in 2026.
At Moara Vlasiei, Joanne Hicks did more than deliver a match-winning spell. She turned longevity into a record, and an unconventional cricket journey into an international milestone that may stand for generations to come.
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