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People who follow cricket closely: do aging players tend to retire from tests, ODIs, or T20s first? Is there a typical order or is it more idiosyncratic? Feels like most players quit tests first, ODIs next, T20s last.
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T20 is lucrative and has more opportunities. Also you can focus on specialised role. Tests are more demanding and you can't survive with minimum set of skills. So as players age and their skill sets wane they retire first from Tests, unless they are puritans :)
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Certainly feels that way (test and ODI are interchangeable depending on the player’s style). I would add T20 leagues to the end of that list. Club T20 (IPL, BBL, etc) gives older players a way to keep playing and getting paid without the pressure of playing for a national side.
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In terms of effort (training, fitness, mental capacity) required to sustain top tier status, I think ODIs are first to go. Then Tests - players can stay in their niche roles in the longer form of game. Then they T20 until arthritis takes hold.
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Aging players do retire from 'red ball cricket' first. It's bc tests are more physically demanding also continuing to play T20s = prolonging ability to continue playing professionally in T20 leagues after retiring from national cricket. This is esp true for non-Indian cricketers
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Trend now is ODIs first, as it is a dying format, tests second and T20s last as it is the most luvcrative. Ben Stokes quit ODIs first, but still plays in other two formats
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I imagine decision making is heavily influenced by injury issues, if you have serious issues you quit tests b/c too hard physically esp. if you bowl at all, but otherwise ODIs b/c lacks the status of tests & the reward of t20s.
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Depends on skills really. Some older players eg Chris Gayle are perfect for playing T20 till the very end but you really have to be a very good slow bowler or a batsman who doesn't need to run very often. Some Pakistan batsmen of old could have easily played T20 into their 40s.