In recent years, cricket has seen a rise in acceptance of the Yo-Yo test, a physical fitness test. The exam, which consists of several stages, gauges a player’s stamina and aerobic ability. The test involves running back and forth between two cones placed 20 meters apart at increasing speed. Before moving on to the next level, the player must finish a set number of shuttles at each level. The test goes on until the player can no longer complete the necessary number of shuttles at a certain level.
Jens Bangsbo, a Danish football coach and sports physiologist, invented the Yo-Yo test. He designed the exam in the early 1990s in order to evaluate his players’ fitness. Athletes from a number of sports, including cricket, have now adopted the test.
Shankar Basu, the Indian cricket team’s then-strength and conditioning coach, presented the Yo-Yo test to the team in 2017. The test turned out to be essential for Indian team selection, and it has since played an important role in raising Indian players’ fitness standards.
Benefits of Yo-Yo Test in Cricket
Cricketers are able to benefit from the Yo-Yo exam in a number of ways. First of all, it’s a great technique for testing a player’s aerobic capacity and durability. Cricketers must be able to maintain a high level of intensity for a long period of time, therefore these are two key skills.
Furthermore, the Yo-Yo test is a good predictor of overall fitness. A player who does well on the Yo-Yo test is less likely to suffer serious injuries and is better prepared to cope with the demands of international cricket.
Lastly, the Yo-Yo exam is extremely adaptable. It is intended for testing the fitness of players of all ages and levels. It can also be used to track a player’s progress over time.
How to Perform the Yo-Yo Test in Cricket
A running track is used for the Yo-Yo test. At one end of the track, two cones are set 20 meters apart. The athlete begins at one cone and runs to the opposite end of the cone and back. The player then takes a brief rest before sprinting to the opposite cone and back. The test proceeds in a similar way, with the healing period shortening and the speed of the runs increasing with each level.
When a player is unable to finish the required number of shuttles at a given level, the test is concluded. The level that a player reaches before failing can be gauged by their score.
Yo-Yo Test Scores in Cricket
For Indian cricketers, the standard Yo-Yo test score is 16.1. Though, many of the top-notch Indian players, have much higher scores. Virat Kohli, for example, has a score of 17.2, while Jasprit Bumrah has a score of 18.5.
Importance of the Yo-Yo Test in Cricket
As the game has become more physically demanding and challenging, it has become increasingly important for players to be in top physical condition. The Yo-Yo test is a highly efficient way to confirm that players are reaching the required fitness standards.
The Yo-Yo test has also helped to reduce the incidence of injuries in cricket. Fitter players are less prone to get injured. This has resulted in an increase in the number of matches that players can play each year.
Impact of the Yo-Yo Test on Indian Cricket
The Yo-Yo test has had a significant impact on Indian cricket. Since the test was made mandatory for selection in the Indian team in 2017, the fitness levels of Indian cricketers have improved dramatically.
This is evident in the way that the Indian team has performed in recent years. The Indian team has been able to compete more effectively in overseas conditions, and they have also been able to maintain a high level of intensity for longer periods of time.
Cricketers Who Failed Yo-Yo Test
Several cricketers, including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson, and Varun Chakravarthy, have previously failed the Yo-Yo test. However, they all pushed hard to increase their fitness and eventually passed the test.
Overall, the Yo-Yo test has proven to be helpful for Indian cricket. It has gone a long way in improving Indian cricketers’ fitness levels and making them more competitive on the international scene.
Players with the highest Yo-Yo Test scores in cricket
- Alastair Cook (England) – 22.3
- Al Amin Hossain (Bangladesh) – 22.1
- Shan Masood (Pakistan) – 22.1
- Jonny Bairstow (England) – 21.8
- Asad Shafiq (Pakistan) – 21.1
- Joe Root (England) – 21.1
- Mayank Dagar (India) – 19.3
- Manish Pandey (India) – 19.2
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – 19.2
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan) – 19.2
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