UPCA makes Yo-Yo test mandatory for selection
LUCKNOW : It seems that days for physically unfit players in the senior cricket teams of Uttar Pradesh are over as the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association has made the Yo-Yo test mandatory from this season.
The test would be first introduced to the joint camps of the under-23 and Ranji Trophy teams, beginning October 21, at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
The test would be conducted on October 22 and 23 under the watchful guidance of Ranji Trophy team trainer Pradeep Gauda, and for sure it will matter a lot in selection.
“Yes, it’s going to matter a lot in selection as this has been mandatory in cricket everywhere,” senior selection committee chief and former offie Gopal Sharma said on Wednesday.
“We don’t need unfit players in the teams. If you don’t have fit players, you won’t win matches,” said Sharma, adding, “We have a good bunch of youngsters this time, and I am hopeful that Yo-Yo test will help players understand their physical strength.”
It is learnt that Yo-Yo is a variation of the beep test, a running aerobic fitness routine that even Indian cricketers had to undergo in the past.
Later passing beep was made mandatory for selection as is the case with Yo-Yo, and a few cricketers including former UP Ranji skipper Suresh Raina had to miss the selection after failing into the Yo-Yo test.
In his second test, he had successfully achieved the required mark.
Yo-Yo probes a sportsperson’s endurance and ability to pace himself; towards the end of the maximal running aerobic fitness drill, an element of speed comes into play.
The grueling routine has two sets of cones that are 20 metres apart. Once the beep is sounded, an athlete has to reach the marker on the other side by the time the next beep sounds, turn and get back to where he started before the third beep.