‘I’ve Always Played’: The One Sport Joanna Lumley Wants Women Over 50 To Try This Summer – And Physios Agree - Walking Sports Hub

Physiotherapists say cricket could help women over 50 build stronger bones, improve balance and boost heart health.

Her character Patsy once urged us to ‘run, darling, there’s booze at the finish line!’ But Joanna Lumley is now encouraging women to get moving in other ways, and with a different motivation in mind.

The Absolutely Fabulous star, 80, has been playing cricket since she was a little girl, and believes it’s something women of every age should try. ‘You may not know this, but I’ve had an obsession with cricket throughout my life and feel passionately that everyone should get the chance to enjoy the game,’ she says. ‘What’s great about the sport is that no matter your previous experience, age or ability, it can be enjoyed by everyone.’

Daunted by the long matches, and the alarmingly hard balls? Don’t be, she says. ‘It’s a game that you can play at every level,’ she says. ‘You don’t have to play the full Test match for five days, which the purists adore. You can have much shorter games – Twenty20, The Hundred, half-day cricket – and that’s what’s so brilliant about it.’

Women’s Walking Cricket

Lumley’s not the only one encouraging more women to give the sport a go. Participation in beginner-friendly formats has risen rapidly in recent years, with organisations such as Age UK highlighting walking cricket as a fun way to stay active in later life and many clubs now also offering soft-ball cricket and women-only and beginner sessions. So what are the benefits?

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Why is cricket is a good exercise for women over 50?

Well, first off, the bat – cricket combines strength, balance, coordination and cardiovascular exercise in one activity.

Physiotherapist Sam Bhide – herself a bowler who has played since childhood – says this is particularly helpful to women after the menopause, and not just because we’re too busy to schedule separate workouts for individual benefits or body groups. ‘Cricket is a compound sport that engages all major muscle groups while offering cardiovascular, endurance and mental health benefits,’ she explains.

‘Because it is a weight-bearing activity – particularly during the bowling run-up, running between wickets and fielding – it is excellent for post-menopausal bone health,’ she adds.

It helps strengthen bones

After the menopause, falling oestrogen levels accelerate bone density loss, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

It can improve balance and reduce risk of falls

Whether you’re stretching for a catch, pivoting direction while fielding or balancing to bowl, cricket constantly challenges your coordination and body awareness.

It builds strength and flexibility without feeling like a gym workout

It’s good for your heart

Although cricket includes moments of rest (thank goodness for the tea pavilion), it also involves plenty of moderate movement throughout a match, from walking and jogging to short bursts of running.

Combined, these activities contribute towards the NHS recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week.

It could boost your mood as much as your fitness

But cricket’s biggest hidden benefit? It might just be its social side.

Research consistently shows that participating in team sports can help reduce loneliness while improving confidence, wellbeing and overall quality of life. Bhide says outdoor team sports have also been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and depression in older women. Thinking of giving it a go?

If you’re new to cricket, start gradually and choose a beginner-friendly format such as walking cricket or soft-ball cricket.

Warming up properly and building fitness over time can help reduce the risk of injury, particularly if you haven’t exercised regularly for a while.

As Lumley says, cricket is a sport that ‘can be enjoyed by everyone, and with growing numbers of women discovering walking cricket and beginner sessions, it’s an absolutely fabulous time to pick up a bat.

FULL STORY at source: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/health/a71895333/jonna-lumley-cricket/

#walkingcricket #walkingsports #walkingsport

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