Age should be no criteria for selection, says Sachin Tendulkar

Former Indian captain and batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar believes age should never be a criteria while picking up players and that if young players are plucked in raw, they are fearless and bring freedom to the sport.

“If somebody is good, he should play for the country. Age should never the criteria,” Sachin told ESPNCricinfo.

This comment holds special significance as England, a country which historically has been quite hesitant in picking up young players for national duty, has picked up Ollie Pope (20 years) for the Lord’s Test match.

Also, Sam Curran, another 20-year-old who was the man of the match in the first Test gave enough proof that age should be no criteria for selection.

Tendulkar, who himself made his debut for India when he was 16 recalled his own experience against Pakistan.

“When I was selected to play my first game (against Pakistan in 1989) I was 16. In a way it helped. I did not know what it was to play against Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Abdul Qadir, possibly the best attack of those times. You will only see one side of the corner and with experience and maturity you see the other side of the corner to balance things out,” the legend added.

Sachin, who was speaking as part of opening his cricket academy in association with English county Middlesex, also said that when players are young they do not seen the other side of the coin and just have fun and perform.

First Published: Aug 07, 2018 15:03 IST