If the evergreen success of Brad Hogg is anything to go by, foundation Sydney Sixer Steve O'Keefe might still have 10 more years of Big Bash League in him.
Hogg was 46 when he bowled his final BBL delivery, having been a cult hero during the Twenty20 competition's golden era.
The left-arm tweaker was remarkably effective, finishing with an economy rate of 6.63.
O'Keefe, who recently celebrated his 36th birthday, has an economy rate of 6.75 from his 63 BBL matches.
The only current BBL bowler to have played more than 20 games and proven more consistently tidy is Adelaide whiz Rashid Khan.
"Hoggy could still get around at the age he did, I tell that to Jodes (Sixers general manager Jodie Hawkins)," O'Keefe said.
"The difference between Hoggy and I is that he actually spun the ball. So it's kind of hard to hang on if you're not moving the ball off the straight."
The self-deprecating veteran is the top-ranked spinner on the BBL's wicket-taking table for this season, having snared 2-8 and 3-16 to help the Sixers win their past two clashes.
The former Test tweaker, who was part of the Sixers' outfit that won BBL titles in 2012 and 2020, knows exactly where he sits with Hawkins and coach Greg Shipperd.
"I'm still enjoying my cricket and feel like the ball is coming out as well as ever," O'Keefe said, having been ushered into first-class retirement at the start of this year when NSW recruited Adam Zampa.
"But you have a look at our squad and there are some really, really good young players.
"If I'm still adding value to this group, I'll go as long as I can.
"As soon as I get a tap on the shoulder and told that is no longer the case, I'll happily move to the side.
"Jodie and Shippy have been really transparent about where I stand this season. I've really enjoyed that transparency and leadership, I certainly didn't get it when I finished at the Blues."
The fourth-placed Sixers face Melbourne Stars at Metricon Stadium on Boxing Day in a rematch of the 2019-20 final.
BEST BBL ECONOMY RATES (OF ALL TIME, MIN 21 GAMES)
*6.52 - Rashid Khan (44 games)
*6.63 - Brad Hogg (60 games)
*6.70 - Michael Beer (58 games)
*6.75 - Steve O'Keefe (63 games)
*6.85 -Jason Behrendorff (45 games)
