If you're good enough, you're old enough. But come on, there has to be a line. Introducing a 13-year-old to professional men's sport oversteps that mark.

Teenagers are usually learning their first swear word on the school playground at that age, not picking up a whole dictionary of naughty phrases from the men in the slips.

They should not be facing bowlers who send the ball steaming down the wicket at speeds of up to 97mph.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history as the youngest player to sign for an IPL side when he was auctioned for £105,000 this week.

He is ineligible to feature in the under-16 Vijay Merchant trophy for his club, Bihar, because players must be over 14.

Yet he has made his first-class debut for the senior side - and he did so at 12.

Young players at that age need protecting, not thrust into the spotlight to face some of the sport's best.

O'Sullivan all the chalk

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has been the chalk of the town at the UK Championship.

Shaun Murphy suggested the Rocket's loyalty to Triangle chalk is a "spoiler" and played a part in his dusty first-round exit.

But there's no chance of him blowing out the stubbornness and following John Higgins and Judd Trump in switching to Taom chalk.

Murray has clear Djokovic plan

ALL Novak Djokovic needs from Andy Murray is strategic advice.

At this late stage of his career, the 37-year-old is unlikely to make any drastic changes to his playing style.

But with in-game coaching now permitted, a bit of courtside tactical guidance from Murray against the top players could make all the difference.