Paul Nixon marches on

At 40, Paul Nixon is the third-oldest cricketer on the county circuit, but despite undergoing a fifth knee operation just two weeks ago, the veteran gloveman shows no sign of discomfort says Justin Goulding, writing for the ECB website.

While the longevity of Mark Ramprakash, 42, and Robert Croft, who turns 41 next month, is to be applauded, neither has spent the best part of a quarter of a century, in Nixon's words, “doing 1,000 squats a day”. Such is the wicketkeeper's lot, and it is testament to Nixon's fitness, professionalism and enduring love of the game that he remains a key figure on and off the pitch at Grace Road.