Former Team India physio not convinced with the yo-yo test's 16.1 benchmark

Ever since Ambati Rayudu has been dropped from the Indian team, the yo-yo test has become the talk of the town. Many are against it for being the benchmark for the selection of the players. Even the secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association came down hard at the process the other day over the ouster of Rayudu. The former Indian physio John Gloster has also joined the list now and is not convinced about the high cut-off set by the team management to clear the test.

Gloster served as the physio of Team India for a considerable period of time and has worked with the legendary cricketers the country has ever produced. He was with the Men in Blue when the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were the part of the team.

He admitted that it would’ve been physically not possible for these cricketers to attain the score of 16.1 in the yo-yo test but the amount of talent they were offering to the team couldn’t have been ignored. “For some cricketers, 16.1 would have been physically unattainable. That doesn’t mean they would be exempted from the selection. The benchmark is whether they genuinely attempt to improve based on a threshold. Whatever the individual threshold is, every time you test them, they improve that,” he said while speaking to Sportstar.

Is it really necessary?

John Gloster was of the opinion that the much-debated yo-yo test could be applicable for the shortest format of the game as one has to be supremely fit to make the difference on the field. But he also pointed out the fact of it not becoming the mandatory parameter in the other formats. “Yo-Yo test could be of help in the T20s, but is it a definitive test for all formats of the game? I am not too sure,” he added.

Gloster worked with Sanju Samson closely during the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the physio of Rajasthan Royals (RR) and believed that he was extremely fit. “The reason to have such tests is to know the durability factor. But then, what about the benchmark? Is Sanju Samson unfit? No. He took some fantastic catches during the IPL, which would not have been possible had he been unfit,” John further said.

As it stands now, the Indian team management is adamant about using the yo-yo test as the fitness parameter and the players are being chosen based on the same. It remains to be seen if they shift their focus after attracting so much ire over the same.

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