Fitness and not age is the key

EACH TIME one watches an indomitable veteran giving his much younger team-mates a real run for their money, whether fielding like a tiger, or scampering between the wickets like a man possessed, the mind asks the question - Is age alone a factor in determining the career of a player or do ability and fitness come into the picture as well?

A big question with an easy answer, though the selectors have often failed to see the wood for the trees.

Fitness should be given its due. Too many illustrious names have bowed out under rather unsavoury circumstances because of certain cliched misconceptions.

A senior player, fit and in form, can, apart from performing on the field, show the way to the younger members of the side as the `guiding light'. Lessons that would eventually prove invaluable in the blossoming of these cricketers.

Like England's versatile Alec Stewart for instance. The Surrey player is 37, but apart from performing the highly demanding job of keeping wickets, which he does with aplomb, Stewart's free- stroking ways at the crease have served the side well.

His is a prime example of how much a performing senior can contribute. Similarly, Aussie greats Steve and Mark Waugh are in their mid- 30s, but both are in fine shape physically and in form. So no questions asked for sure.

The West Indian selectors committed a blunder, ruthlessly dumping the prolific Desmond Haynes in the early 90s, when the Bajan was still going great guns.

Apart from providing the Caribbeans with a solid platform with a mixture of caution and aggression, Haynes could have passed on vital tips to his younger opening partners.

The consequence of that mistake has been nothing short of disastrous. The West Indies, several years down-the-line, has still not found a stable opening pair. A far cry from the halcyon days of Gordon Greenidge and Haynes.

Then there is the case of India's classy No 3. Mohinder Amarnath being dropped from the side just because he was getting on in years. `Jimmy' was still fit and among the runs, but the `wise men' delivered a crushing blow to this brave cricketer. Under the circumstances, his famous words, ``the selectors are a bunch of jokers,'' can well be understood.

Another fearless fighter Javed Miandad, who faced severe criticism when selected in the Pakistan team for the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, silenced the doubters.

The wily old fox was just recovering from a career threatening knee injury and there were several who believed he was not ready for the premier one-day competition.

Miandad proved them wrong, conjuring runs at the crunch in that inimitable style of his, and ending up with the highest aggregate in the tournament.

And the legendary Imran Khan, in the evening of a glittering career, took cortisone injections for a serious shoulder injury, but played a huge role as he led Pakistan to an epoch making victory.

There are several other examples of guts and glory.

John Traicos, the off-spinner in the classical mould, turned out for Zimbabwe with distinction, even when he was well into his 40s; bowling in his typically canny fashion and holding his own on the field.

The fearsome Curtly Ambrose might have bid adieu to his career, but the lanky Antiguan paceman, with loads of experience behind him, still had a good deal of cricket left in him.

Ditto with his pace bowling mate, the great Courtney Walsh, yet to make up his mind about quitting the game. Walsh, is presently the highest wicket taker in Test cricket and, if he doesn't retire now, his final tally will be anybody's guess.

And the two fiery Ws, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, continue to give batsmen nightmares in daylight with their mastery over swing and seam.

Younis has proved many wrong time and again, and Akram continues to defy age and injury-related problems in an almost unbelievable manner - easily the best left-arm paceman of this generation.

Of all the teams, the Sri Lankans come out on top when it comes to finding the right mix of youth and experience. A casual glance at the side will suffice.

Young lions like Russell Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumara Sangakkarra, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, are provided all encouragement, and at the same time the experience of Aravinda de Silva, Muthiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, and Marvan Atapattu, is not ignored too.

Before calling it a day, when Lanka's most influential cricketer, Arjuna Ranatunga achieved the rare distinction of becoming the first player to turn out in his country's first and hundredth Test, it marked a glorious moment in a glittering career.

Till his last match, Ranatunga was a smart catcher and an outstanding runner between the wickets, apart from being one of the shrewdest batsmen to have stepped on a cricket field.

Finally to India's lionhearted Robin Singh, who may be in the wrong side of the 30s but is second to none when it comes to commitment and fitness.

For someone who made a comeback when he was well over 30, few gave him a chance then, Robin has exceeded all expectations by turning out for the country in more than 100 one-day internationals, an achievement in itself. And he continues to be among the best fielders in a side that doesn't possess too many of them, besides being the best `runner between the wickets' now that Ajay Jadeja is out of the team. Not to forget his timely contributions with the bat and the ball time and again.

The secret of Robin's success is the supreme level of his fitness. Nothing in life has come easy for this gutsy player, who has had to fight every inch of the way.

Yes fitness, and not age is the key. Let's not put a premature end to the careers of cricketers who have served the country with distinction.

S. DINAKAR

Chennai

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