England’s youngest Test player remains Brian Close, who was 18 years 149 days old when he made his debut against New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1949. Four other Englishmen won their first caps aged 19: Jack Crawford (1905-06), Denis Compton (1937), Ben Hollioake (1997) and Ian Peebles (1927-28). Although Brian Close played just 22 Tests, his international career lasted until 1976 – when, aged 45 years 140 days, and again at Old Trafford. He also ended up as the 11th-oldest England Test cricketer. So in ODI Ben Hollioake, at 19 years 195 days in 1997, was also England’s youngest player in a one-day international, at 2nd place Stuart Broad was only 20 years 67 days in 2006 is the youngest of 11 20-year-olds to have played. England’s youngest player in a T20I is Stuart Broad, again in 2006: Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler were also under 21 when they made their debuts in 2011.
