Essay on yo-yo cricket fitness test

  Yo-Yo  Cricket Fitness Test: -  In every sport, physical fitness is the major concern besides the potential of a player. Even though the q...

 Yo-Yo  Cricket Fitness Test: - 

In every sport, physical fitness is the major concern besides the potential of a player. Even though the quality player is unable to deliver the expected results just because of poor fitness and an average player with a perfect fitness level gets more chances to showcase his talent. Many times, we have witnessed that any particular player is not in the game because of fitness, and during the whole match, we just miss the presence of our favorite player. Even though injuries during the game are accidental but some times relate to physical fitness. Due to increasing throat-cut competition and expectations, players are giving enough attention and care towards their fitness level than earlier, whether it is an individual game or a team game.

The Game of cricket is the most popular game in the world and is being played by many countries and watched by millions of fans worldwide. With every single match played, players are setting a new benchmark of their fitness level whether it is to hit, bowl, throw, run, or catch. We have come across many crucial matches, how a perfect throw from a boundary line or drivingly superb catch turn the match extraordinarily. Moreover, T- 20 cricket and premier leagues forced the players to pull fitness level at par excellence because of limited-overs, expected performance is very high. In such a scenario, every cricket player is supposed to maintain his physical fitness up to set criteria and benchmarks.

Recently, there was a piece of news, that Srilanka Cricket and its coach Mahela Jaywardhane are going to start the Yo-Yo test for the players from Jan 2022. In this test, players are supposed to complete 2Km. distance in 8 min. 10 secs. Yo-Yo test is basically a fitness test where two cones are kept at a distance of 20 meters and running from the first cone, a player has to reach another cone before a beep sound of a time watch and come back to starting cone before another beep sound. This comprises one shuttle. With every successive shuttle, the required time to complete the shuttle gets reduced meaning the player has to run faster than a previous shuttle. And accordingly, the score is detected. If a player takes more time like 8 min 35 secs to 8 min 55 secs then his salary will be deducted and if a player takes more time than 8 min 55 secs then that particular player will not be selected until he qualifies for the Yo-Yo test in the prescribed time limit. In a year, four Yo-Yo tests will be conducted and a random test can be conducted at any time during the year.

At the same time, skin fold level is reduced up to 70 from 85. The test is to measure body posture and body fat index.

Srilanka cricket gave a clear-cut message to the team that, " SHAPE- UP or SHIP- OUT" meaning either enhance your fitness level and be in a team or just out of the game. Actually, the time has gone where not much attention was being paid towards fitness and a player with potential used to play in spite of the poor fitness level. This decision might have been taken because of poor performance by the last year. Presently Srilankan team rating is, Test ranking- 7, One Day ranking - 9, and T- 20 ranking is 8. Therefore strict initiative has been taken by the newly appointed coach, Mahela Jaywardhane.            Another cricket-playing team has different criteria for the Yo-Yo test. 

But in the current scenario of Covid -19, pandemic, physical fitness is not only restricted to the sportsperson but a common man too! The whole world has strongly witnessed excellent physical fitness is the key factor to fight against any disease or a covid virus.