VIDEO | Angelo Mathews does 10 push-ups to prove his fitness
BCCI
With the increase in competition in world cricket, fitness has become a top priority for many cricketers across the globe. Players are asked to prove their fitness ahead of a crucial series and Angelo Mathews did something like that as he tried proving his fitness by doing push-ups on the field.Â
Former skipper Angelo Mathews was in top form in the first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand which concluded today in Wellington. It was his batting effort that ensured that the game ended in a draw and it was a huge confidence booster for the Islanders. Mathews scored a brilliant hundred in the second innings after getting 83 in the first.
Mathews came out to bat at a time when the Lankans were tottering in the second innings with the scorecard reading only 13/3 in 6.2 overs. Mathews then combined with Kusal Mendis to stitch an unbeaten partnership worth 274 runs to ensure that the match ends in a draw. Mathews scored his ninth Test hundred in the game while Mendis also scored 141 during that partnership.
However, the former captain’s hundred was not the topic of discussion but his celebration certainly was. He struck a four off Colin de Grandhomme’s delivery to reach the milestone and then he dropped his bat and helmet on the ground and did around 10 push-ups near the pitch. He also flexed his bicep to the dressing room probably making a statement that he is still fit to play any format of the game. He played 323 balls to score 120 runs in the second innings and battled well against a strong Kiwi attack on the fourth day of the Test match.
As per the coach Chandika Hathurasingha and the selectors, the all-rounder was dropped from the Lankan limited overs side purely based on his poor fitness. And Mathews took it upon himself to prove that he is completely fit after scoring the hundred in Wellington.
