According to Dr Mike Lambert, associate professor at the department of exercise science and sports medicine at UCT, flexibility becomes a problem and the risk of injury increases after the age of 25, but skills can be maintained and can peak right into the mid-thirties
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As a cricketer gets older, the most used side of the body starts adapting differently to the other side (for example a left-handed batsmen will be more developed on his left side). Therefore, as you get older, it is not enough to just play cricket, extra flexibility and strength training is important. Such training is referred to as “prophylactic exercise” (exercise that is done to prevent injuries).
Batsmen in general play for longer than bowlers, because bowling is more physically demanding.
Common injuries in older men include hamstring and lower back injuries, this is why it is important to do flexibility exercises. The older cricketer needs to do resistance training in the gym that will strengthen his whole body.
There is no foolproof way to avoid early retirement from the game, you can only reduce the risk of injuries.
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