The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to introduce a unique running test alongside the dreaded Yo-Yo test as a standard of physical fitness for its contracted players.
The new test is a mandatory 2-km time trial that will measure the speed and endurance levels of the players. This new test mandates that fast bowlers complete the 2 km run in 8 minutes and 15 seconds. On the other hand, batsmen, wicket-keepers, and spinners can take up to 8 minutes and 30 seconds to complete the run. The minimum yo-yo level for all remains at 17.1.
Talking about the new test, a BCCI official, as quoted by Indian Express said, “The Board felt that the current fitness standard played a huge role in getting our fitness to the next level. It is important to take our fitness level to another level now. The time trial exercise will help us to compete even better. The Board will keep updating the standards every year.”
The players were informed about the Tests and it has decided to create three windows in February, June, and August/September to conduct the Tests. The England Test series has been exempted from the newly inducted testing methods but the players vying for a place in the ODI team would have to undergo these Tests in February.
In the past, the Yo-Yo test has brought doom for players like Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, and Sanju Samson who had failed the test and lost their place in the team.
In other South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, the fitness testing methods are similar as far as Yo-Yo is concerned. Yo-Yo has a qualifying mark as set differently by different teams. India have set 17:1 as the qualifying speed level.
To qualify means to run between two cones set apart 20 meters each and the players have to move between them as and when the beep goes and till the time the beep keeps ongoing. Neighbouring countries like Pakistan have a minimum level of 17:4 in the Yo-Yo test while West Indies and England are at 19. The New Zealand team has the highest level which is set at 20:1.
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