Average age of test cricketers increasing?

[Perm]

Its an area that cricket is rapidly embracing after being behind baseball for a long time.

There are numerous methods.

One you can do yourself is focus on an object that is moving than then rapidly switch to a stationary one. The eye is trained to adjust quicker.

Cricketers have often done this in the car by driving and focusing on a sign that is coming up and then quickly adjusting to a set number on the speedometer. Repeated over many times the eye gets quicker in picking up and readjusting.

Another one Ive used is with tennis ball. A group of 6 or more tennis balls, all with different coloured stickers on them. The ball is hit and the fieldsman has to call the colour of the sticker out.

Once this has been done to a level where there is improvement, the stickers are replaced by balls that have numbers written on them. The fieldsman has to then call out the numbers.

Obviously, like any form of training there has to be large number of reps over a decent length of time.

However, the eye can be trained and improvements gained just like any other body part.

That's really interesting Goughy, thanks mate Might have to try them.

 

[premium2007]

Not entirely surprised by this trend. They are getting fitter by the year. Its ads to it as well. Experience is always a good think to have. However, cycling new players is always important at the same time.

 

[Speersy]

Nothing new really though. In 1976 England had Edrich, Steele, Close and Brearley in their top four, a combined age of 712.

Edrich 39
Steele 35
Brearley 34
Close 45

154 to me?

 

[Poker Boy]

I don't think you'll see a lot of 40+ Test cricketers in the future because of the increased programme and the demands of fielding. One cannot imagaine England opening with a 45 year old and a 39 year old again never mind someone like Ironmonger playing for Australia now. It's fielding that finishes them off (unless they field in the slips).Remember the one time Australia picked an over 40 year old in recent times was in the freak curcumstances of 1977 when they neded an experinced player to captain them. I suspect 35 is the new 40 and careers won't go on long after that...

 

[Goughy]

Out of interest. Has anyone mentioned Emburey in this thread? He was playing Test cricket in 1995 less than one month shy of 43 years old.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Edrich 39
Steele 35
Brearley 34
Close 45

154 to me?

153 to everyone else.

 

[BoyBrumby]

153 to everyone else.

Touche.