• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Watch 83 Year Old Man Playing Cricket While Carrying An Oxygen Cylinder On His Back

[Watch] 83-Year-Old Man Playing Cricket While Carrying an Oxygen Cylinder on His Back

Vaibhav Tripathi

image-ll253dz9Alex Steele carrying an oxygen cylinder while keeping the wickets. (Twitter)

At 83 years old, Alex Steele, a former Scottish cricketer, shows that age is no barrier to his love for sports. He's become an inspiration as he bravely keeps wickets in a video circulating on social media, even with an oxygen cylinder on his back.

Steele's vitality remains palpable, even at 83. The video captures him standing resolute at the stumps, deftly collecting deliveries and skillfully thwarting wides down the leg side. His instincts remain razor-sharp, swiftly reacting to a drifting delivery and adeptly gloving it, preventing his team from conceding unnecessary runs.

Accompanying the video is a poignant message:

“Some stop cricket because they get old. And legends stop getting old when they play cricket! That's 83 years old Alex Steele behind the stumps with an Oxygen cylinder on his back. We think those oxygen cylinders aren't the real oxygen, cricket is the real oxygen for him. Massive respect to him.”

Steele's journey commenced in first-class cricket in 1967 as a member of Forfarshire Cricket Club. Steele debuted for Scotland against Lancashire at Old Trafford during their 1967 tour of England. 

He played 14 first-class matches, amassing 621 runs at an average of 24.84. This encompassed two half-centuries and an impressive top score of 97. Renowned for his wicketkeeping abilities, he secured 11 catches and executed two stumpings. His final first-class appearance was in the 1980 season.

In 2020, Steele was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a terminal respiratory condition. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), categorized as the most prevalent type of pulmonary fibrosis by the American Lung Association, prompts patients to embrace healthy living and oxygen therapy.

Notably, Steele's passion for cricket knows no boundaries. Despite grappling with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2020, as multiple reports affirm, his fervor for the sport remains unwavering. This determination underscores his indomitable spirit and refusal to let circumstances dictate his pursuits.