India A fly to England, leave behind Sanju Samson for failing Yo-Yo Test

Sanju Samson’s career took another back step when he was pulled out of India A’s upcoming tour of England after he failed the Yo-Yo Test.  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declared that Samson cannot travel and reportedly, Shreyas Iyer and Co left for England from Delhi on Sunday.

No official report about Samson’s score was released but according to reports, he fell way short of the prescribed 16.1 mark in the Yo-Yo test, which is the new benchmark for fitness for Indian cricket players.

Several Indian experts have regarded Samson highly, especially former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, who was also Samson’s coach during his Under-19 playing days. Samson, who was under Dravid at Delhi Daredevils as well, has clearly failed his mentor here.

The same report suggested that according to a few sources from National Cricket Academy (NCA), Samson performed the fitness test along with the other India A players three days ago but then he suffered a few niggles resulting in the low Yo-Yo score. So far, BCCI has not announced Samson’s replacement for India A’s tour of England but it is believed that they are soon going to send a wicketkeeper-batsman soon in place of Samson.

One of the keeper-batsmen, who did well in the IPL and Vijay Hazare Trophy, will get this golden chance. Samson was part of the ‘A’ side which will be playing List A cricket in a triangular series also involving hosts England Lions and West Indies A.  The one-day tri-series is followed by three ‘A’ Tests in July for which Samson was not picked. That side is led by Karun Nair and the designated wicketkeeper in that squad is KS Bharat.