Blog

Old age has loomed large in the news in recent weeks. Our continental cousins are kicking off at the mere hint of a modest rise in the retirement age to 62 and the smell of burning Citroens wafts across the Channel. Meanwhile, halfway across the world, The Risen Lord, our Father Sachin of Tendulkar stands on the cusp of his 100th international hundred at the infirm cricketing age of 37, having played for India for over 20 years. Does Suresh Raina give up his seat for the old man on the team coach? Does Sehwag help him across the road? India's finest goes on and on, getting better with age. Take note our Froggy friends.

Age, what's it all about? Liver spots, incontinence and Songs of Praise for Manny; a railing against the passing of the years for Zooby. Did we mention his rather fetching tramp stamp and new piercings? No, thought not. Leonard would be spinning in his grave at the mere thought. Stick to cords and sensible shoes Jonathan.

It does seem that with modern sports science a committed cricketer can play well past their mid-30s sell by date. Hadlee and Gooch showed the cleaning-living way and were ruthlessly effective at 40; Botham, a man of, ahem, enthusiasms, finished as an effective cricketer at 30. Tendulkar has a lot of cricketing miles on the clock but strikes me as a man who looks after himself. It probably helps that his missus is a doctor and he's gone easy on the ghee. Definitely lay off the ghee kids.

Of course, if you're still able to do the job then why not play on. The money's good and you're a long time retired. There's a lot of guff spoken about giving youth its head. Give me Wagner over Cher Lloyd any day; Rahul Dravid is probably peeling himself into a jumpsuit and practising the bongos as I type. The Indian middle order still does it - just - and the young pretenders strike me as front foot bullies, grown soft on dibbly dobbly medium pacers and fatuous IPL games. Meat and drink for Dale Steyn. We see it on the Sofa too. Hendo can still do a job. Admittedly he broadcasts from a commode and thinks we should be still be on the Gold Standard. And our glorious leader Danny is a case in point; the Keef Richards of cricket commentary, a 40-something in the ravaged body of a 60 year old. Just don't go falling out of a coconut tree young Daniel!