If you follow cricket, then you might have seen how today’s cricketers are much slimmer and they have much better fitness than previous ones. And, the most important reason behind it is the YO-YO test becoming more common. the game of modern cricket, fitness is no more a choice but a must.
It is not a hidden fact that to be able to excel in cricket a cricketer must be a shaper, faster, and fitter. Most cricket teams use a fitness test called the Yo-Yo Test to check all these abilities. It has been well accepted as a measure to rate endurance, stamina, and overall fitness of the player in terms of enabling players to attain international and domestic cricket standards.
What is the Yo-Yo Test in Cricket?
This test is a variation of the Beep Test. It was specially designed to assess cardio endurance. The players start with two cones 20 meters apart and then run at faster paces. A player starts running when the beep goes, and he has to reach that other cone before the next beep sounds. For each level, as he moves, the time between the beeps decreases, which compels players to run at higher speeds.
It depends on the level, and the number of shuttles performed is appropriately. It continues to test until a player can’t maintain the beeps and is unable to achieve the distance in two successive rounds.
How the Administered Yo-Yo Test Is Given
This is a description step-by-step of how this test is conducted.
- Setup: Two markers are placed 20 meters apart from each other, which are coned off.
- Start of the Test: The runner runs between two cones with sound beeps on.
- Pace accelerates: The time gap between the beeps is increased. The runner must cover the distance faster with every beep.
On the other hand, if he misses the cone twice in a row on two consecutive beeps, then that ends his running, and his score is recorded.
Traditionally, the score is measured in terms of the levels, like 15.2 or Level 17.1, how far a player has done in the test.
Why is the Yo-Yo Test Important?
The reason behind the adoption of the Yo-Yo Test in cricket was to set a standard for every player they stay fit and run faster. It acts as a parameter that judges the players’ running ability, and their ability to continuously stay active. This will help the cricketer in so many aspects.
For example, it will help a bowler to bowl longer spells with the same intensity as if it were the first over. And, then batsmen will be able to be fitter and rob those cheeky doubles and singles to increase the scores.
Yo-Yo Test in International Cricket
The Yo-Yo Test has been an integral part of international cricket fitness standards for the last decade. Nowadays, teams like India, Australia, Pakistan, and England opt for it to select cricketers.
Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri introduced a mandatory benchmark by testing all of them through the Yo-Yo Test in India. Their scores would keep these players out of selection irrespective of their talent or reputation in Indian cricket. Yuvraj Singh and Ambati Rayudu are examples of such contributions though they failed the test at various times in their careers.
The passing level in the Yo-Yo Test is 16.1 set by the Indian team. This Yo-Yo test is not just restricted to India it is also adopted by the teams such as New Zealand and England.
Drawback
Despite its popularity, much criticism surrounds the Yo-Yo Test. According to some of its critics, fitness tests like the Yo-Yo Test can never measure skill, which is just as important for cricket. Overemphasized fitness will sideline talented players because they are not likely to come up with good results in the test.
The cricket boards state fitness and skill must go side by side if the modern game is to survive.
Conclusion
As cricket is advancing, the Yo-Yo test has become a hallmark for the cricketer to stay fit and perform better in their career. It helps the cricketers to be able to run fast, and perform for a longer period. All in all, many cricketers have adopted the Yo-Yo test as a measure to judge fitness and to excel in cricket.
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