Why Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina did not make Indian team for Lanka series - truth revealed
Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina failed to get the required score in a ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test at the National Cricket Academy. So, the duo was not considered for India’s limited overs series against Sri Lanka, starting on Sunday
Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are not in a state to ‘endure’ the rigours of international cricket, quite literally. The senior duo failed to match the required score in a ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test at the National Cricket Academy and were not considered for India’s ODI and Twenty20 away series against Sri Lanka.
While the 35-year-old Yuvraj Singh has failed to impress in the recent opportunities that he got, the 30-year-old Suresh Raina last played for India in a T20I against England in February. But with fitness issues coming up, both will have plenty of work at hand.
The Indian team regularly undergoes a series of fitness tests with ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test being the most important of them. It is an advanced version of the ‘beep’ test that was used by teams of earlier generations.
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Below team’s standard
According to reports, for the current Indian team, the acceptable ‘Yo-Yo’ score is 19.5 and upwards. Captain Virat Kohli, one of the fittest Indian cricketers, scores around 21 in the test.
However, both Yuvraj Singh and Raina scored well below the permissible level of 19.5 with Yuvraj barely managing to touch 16, which was the biggest reason for his ouster.
“The current team think tank, coach Ravi Shastri, skipper Virat Kohli and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad have made it clear that fitness standards are non-negotiable. On an average, the Australian cricketers score 21 in Yo-Yo test. Here Virat, Ravindra Jadeja, Manish Pandey regularly hit that score while others are either touching 19.5 or is hitting above that score,” a BCCI official told PTI.
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“Earlier, when the traditional beep test was in vogue, the Indian players of the 1990’s would have scored around 16 to 16.5 barring a few like Mohammed Azharuddin, Robin Singh or Ajay Jadeja.
“But now it’s different as the skipper himself is hitting the benchmark, which the Australian cricket team sets it,” the official added.
How Yo-Yo Test works
Cones are placed to mark out two lines 20 meters apart. A player starts with his foot behind one of the lines, and begins running when instructed.
A player continues running between the two lines, turning when signalled by the recorded beeps.
After each minute or so, the pace gets quicker. If the line is not reached in time, the player must run to the line turn and try to catch up with the pace within two more ‘beeps’. The test is stopped if the player fails to catch up with the pace within the two ends.
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The entire process is software-based where the results are recorded.
It must be noted that the same test for football and hockey team will produce entirely different results. Both have higher benchmarks, considering the speed and endurance level involved with the sport.
(With PTI inputs)
