LONDON - The more test matches a cricketer plays, the longer he is likely to live, British researchers have found.
Professor Paul Boyle, a health geographer at Scotland's University of St Andrews, discovered test cricketers who represented England more than 25 times lived longer than those who playedfewer matches.
The average life expectancy for veterans of 25 or more tests was 77.95 years, compared with 73.25 years for those who played less.
Professor Boyle said the data indicated a link between success and longevity.
"There's a lot of literature out there that suggests happiness leads to healthiness," Professor Boyle said.
"There have been relatively few studies that have been able to focus on an elite occupation and been able to control for people's social upbringing."
The study analysed the lifespan of 418 cricketers who played for the England test team between 1876 and 1963 using the sport's so-called bible, Wisden.
The data was particularly useful because, up until the end of 1962, records distinguished between amateur "gentlemen" and professional "players", providing a marker of social background.
The amateur gentlemen enjoyed a privileged upbringing, while the professional players came from working-class backgrounds.
"The unique contribution of these data is that we can measure occupational success taking into account prior social circumstances," Professor Boyle said.
"The results do suggest that both early life circumstances and success have a role to play in life expectancy."
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found gentlemen who played many tests lived longest at an average of 79.3 years, while players who featured in only a few tests lived to an average age of 71.5.
