Wanted: new superheroes to rank with ageing best
Andy Zaltzman, writing in the Times bemoans the lack of young superstars to fill the void left by the ageing giants who are nearing retirement
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Andy Zaltzman, writing in the Times bemoans the lack of young superstars to fill the void left by the ageing giants who are nearing retirement.
A generation of record-breaking, game-changing greats is gradually taking its leave of the sport, leaving in its wake a potential superstar drought that could threaten the very existence of multimillion-pound television deals.
According to the LG ICC rankings, of the world’s top 15 Test batsmen, only Kevin Pietersen is under 29. On the same day ten years ago, only Steve Waugh of the top eight batsmen was over 29. Eight of the present top ten bowlers are in their thirties. In September 1997, seven of the top ten were under 30. And of the top ten ranked batsmen and bowlers in one-day international cricket, only Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, is under 25.