Happy Christmas, everybody! The old man in the beard has made his global sleigh ride and Rudolph and co are putting up their hooves and vowing never to touch another carrot again. It's not just Santa who strikes a blow for the more mature man. 2013 has been a great year for the thirty-somethings, including those with beards.
Hashim Amla remains one of the world's best batsmen, Moeen Ali had a wonderful county season and everybody wants a piece of Mushtaq Ahmed. So Matt Prior messed things up at the end, but Monty Panesar could yet rediscover some form in Melbourne. Less bushy beards, and younger owners but Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan enjoyed sparkling years, too.
Sachin Tendulkar finally called it a day aged 40, but Misbah-ul-Haq is not far behind and yet scored more ODI runs than anyone else in the year to date whilst skippering Pakistan with some merit. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is another in his 40th year but is still a valued accumulator of runs for the West Indies and Derbyshire. Brad Hodge and Azhar Mahmood are about to turn 39 yet at the time of writing, nobody has more T20 wickets than the Pakistani all-rounder and only three have more runs in the short format than the veteran Aussie.
Speaking of Australians, the Ashes have been reclaimed by a team boasting six thirty-somethings. Ponting and Mike Hussey may have quit Test cricket but age and experience have proved triumphant in recent weeks Down Under. While the new brigade of Aussie pace bowlers have wilted, it has been left to Ryan Harris (34), Mitchell Johnson (32), Shane Watson (32) and Peter Siddle (29) to blow England's batting to kingdom come. 36 year-old Chris Rogers earned a surprise recall to the opener slot, captain Michael Clarke seems in prime form, George Bailey's limited-over success has won promotion to the Test side at 31, and Brad Haddin (36) has finally made the Test wicketkeeper position his own, claiming 76 first-class victims across 2013 whilst scoring heavily against England throughout December. Michael Hogan may not be in the Test team but he claimed many more first-class wickets than anyone else in 2013, racking up 108 for Glamorgan and Western Australia. Yes, he's also 32.
Obviously it is unlikely that the same XI will be lined up againat South Africa and India in five years' time. A succession strategy is still required for Cricket Australia. Nevertheless, if you're good enough, you're young enough. Hughes, Khawaja and co may yet get a decent run in the side, but greater experience of Sheffield Shield or County Championship cricket will come in very handy. Bird, Cummins and co must be brought on and improve their fitness but in the mean time, Lehmann's charges can roll back the years and prove that passing 30 doesn't necessarily mean imminent retirement or brushing up the bon mots and wit for the commentary box. Facial hair is optional.
