Failure to pass 'Yo-Yo' endurance test the reason behind Yuvraj Singh's exclusion from the Indian ODI squad

Sport360 staff 16:36 19/08/2017
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  • Fitness the reason for Yuvraj Singh's exclusion from ODI squad.

    Eyebrows were raised over the exclusion of veteran Yuvraj Singh after the Indian squad for the upcoming five-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka was announced last Monday.

    While there had been questions about whether the continued selection of Singh would be good thing with the ICC World Cup 2019 in mind, there were no indications that such a step would be taken in the foreseeable future.

    However, the reasons for the 35-year-old’s exclusion from the squad have been revealed and it does not look too promising for the left-handed batsman.

    A Press Trust of India (PTI) report has claimed that a failure to clear the ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test is the reason that Singh and Suresh Raina have not been selected for limited overs matches against Sri Lanka.

    The ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test is a more refined version of the ‘Beep’ test used by teams to measure fitness standards. It was a part of the yo-yo test series developed by Danish soccer physiologist Jens Bangsbo.

    As part of the test, training cones are used to mark out two parallel lines 20 meters apart. The subjects start with their foot behind one of the lines, and begin running when instructed. They continue running between the two lines, turning when signaled by the recorded beeps.

    Skipper Kohli has led by example in the fitness department.

    Skipper Kohli has led by example in the fitness department.

    After each minute or so, the pace gets quicker. If the line is not reached in time the subject must run to the line, turn and try to catch up with the pace within 2 more ‘beeps’. The test is stopped if the subject fails to catch up with the pace within the two beeps ending.

    According to the PTI report, an acceptable score in the test is 19.5 and above for the Indian team with skipper Virat Kohli clearing 21 quite easily. It has been reported that both Singh and Raina fell way below the acceptable score with the former barely mustering a score of 16.

    In an interview with the Times of India, head coach Ravi Shastri had said “only the fittest of the lot will survive and thrive going forward and that’s right up there in the list of priorities.”

    This, coupled with the selection committee chief MSK Prasad’s remarks about the need for a supremely fit team to conquer the world in all formats, shows that there is a new approach by Kohli and co going forward.

    Only the fittest will survive, and at the moment it looks like it could be curtains for Yuvraj Singh’s distinguished international career.

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