All text content on this website is the copyright of Channel 4 unless stated or indicated. All photographs are reproduced courtesy of Getty Images UK Ltd unless otherwise stated.

CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 15 Preview - 15 Aug, University of Leicester Roadshow checks out the age barrier

Graham Gooch did it at 41, Alec Stewart's still doing it at 39 and Parthiv Patel's just begun at the age of 17. We are, of course, talking about playing Test cricket, and so Saturday's Cricket Roadshow asks: 'What's in an age?'.

Goochie always maintained that if you're fit enough you're young enough but elsewhere – most notably on the Asian sub-continent - the tendency is to invert that theory; if you're good enough you're old enough.

In essence it is a clash of cultures, with fear of failure set against an unwavering backing of youthful talent.

Here in England our conservative nature tends to put the emphasis on over-protection. Better not expose a youngster to the high-octane strains of Test cricket too early in case it irreperably damages their fragile young temperaments.

Coversely, in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh the trust in natural talent allows teenagers to progress far quicker and, arguably, with far less emotional baggage as they're propelled into the spotlight with the full and unequivocal backing of the national selectors.

And this is not mere conjecture. India's Sachin Tendulkar (16) and now Parthiv Patel (17 ) both made their full Test debuts before they were 18, Pakistan's Shahid Afridi was 16 when he scored the fastest-ever one-day international century while former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga was a mere 18 when he made his international entrance at Test level.

In England you're almost considered a freak if you make the grade by the time you're 21; witness the brouhaha surrounding James Foster's selection last year. Even such outstanding players as Ian Botham and David Gower had to wait until they were 21 before getting the nod, a full five years after Tendulkar was treading the boards.

So why are we so apparently untrusting of precocious youth? Is it inherent in our English nature or are we bogged down by an overly complicated domestic set-up that continues to reward mediocrity?

Elsewhere on the show, broadcast live from Leicester University, Andrew Caddick talks about his fight to regain full fitness, Matthew Hoggard gives a swing-bowling Masterclass and chairman of selectors David Graveney unveils England's squad for the 3rd npower Test against India.

We also take a look at the Leicestershire club leagues and the recent success of all-Asian and all-Caribbean based sides within them.

Mail the Cricket Show team at cricketshow@cricket4.com

Click to return to C4 cricket shows