Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq became the oldest player to score a Test century for 82 years when he reached three figures against England at Lord’s on Thursday and celebrated by performing an impressive series of press-ups.
Misbah Ul-Huq explained that the reason behind his celebration after his century against England was in response to a promise he made to the trainers at the army camp that he would do 10 push ups if managed to score a century.
Have you ever seen a celebration like this?! #EngvPak https://t.co/bbGH9lfMpG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) 14 July 2016
The 42-year-old’s achievement was all the more impressive as this was also his first Test at the ‘home of cricket’.
Not since England’s Patsy Hendren made a century against Australia aged 45 at Manchester’s Old Trafford ground back in 1934 had an older player scored a Test hundred.
Remarkably, this was also Misbah’s first Test anywhere in England, with selection decisions having kept him out of previous tours.
It looked as if Misbah was about to celebrate his achievement by prostrating himself on the Lord’s turf in prayer.
But instead he performed a series of press-ups in what appeared to be a joke aimed at critics who questioned whether he is now too old for international cricket.
The gesture also looked to be a wry reference to the pre-tour ‘army-style’ training camp the squad were put through at the Pakistan Military Academy in the northwestern town of Kakul.