NSJCA’s selectors choose players who play a positive, competitive style of cricket enabling teams to win, rather than players who emphasise containment.
Players who have good technique are favoured because they are more likely to be able to withstand and apply sustained pressure.
While batters need to be able to defend, they must demonstrate they can score. Bowlers must demonstrate they can take wickets, rather than simply restricting batters. Spin is valued because it is disruptive and can dislodge key batters. Wicket keeping is treated equally to batting and bowling.
Players who are strong fielders and/or excel at running between wickets have a selection edge.
Selectors do not take into account players’ results in shorter form cricket because this data is not necessarily a good predictor of performance in higher level, longer form cricket.
Team Balance
Players are chosen for team roles: top order batters, middle order batters, pace bowlers, spin bowlers and wicket keepers.
In addition to having a high level of core skill as a batter, bowler or wicket keeper, selectors value players who demonstrate expertise in a second core skill. To help ensure teams are balanced, players are sometimes chosen for that second skill.
Players are only chosen and employed as all-rounders if they are able to bat and bowl at representative standard.
Trial 1 and Trial 2
Except in higher age groups, NSJCA runs two selection trials.
At Trial 1, selectors screen players to assess fundamental technique in batting, bowling and wicket keeping. Assessments are conducted in the nets.
Trial 2 is a centre wicket trial and simulates match conditions. Selectors continue to assess fundamental technique in the core disciplines but also additional skills such as running between wickets and fielding.
Assessments can be quick, so players have a short period in which to showcase their ability.
Preparation – Training
At a junior age, only a minority of players stand out solely as bowlers or batters.
The majority are a little better at one skill than the other. For those in this category, training might focus on the stronger discipline but shouldn’t neglect the other discipline, which selectors might value because of its effect on team balance.
Wicket keepers need to focus on catching, footwork, glovework and reflexes. As a second priority, they should aim to strengthen their batting
Preparation for trials should include fielding. If a player baulks at catching a high ball or a ball thrown flat but hard, then these are priorities for fielding improvement.
Parents who do not feel sufficiently knowledgeable to help a player train for trials are advised to seek assistance from an experienced coach.
Preparation – Club Cricket
Players who wish to play representative cricket should play the strongest level of club cricket available.
That can be achieved by playing in higher age groups and, if possible, 30 over cricket. For girls, competition with and against boys is ideal.
Stage 1 cricket alone is not sufficiently testing to prepare players for representative cricket.
Guidance – Selection
Rather than being formulaic, selection choices are nuanced and complex, reflecting insights and preferences individual selectors have. Nevertheless, traits below are a reasonable guide as to what selectors look for. Additionally, selectors look for evidence of athleticism, enthusiasm, fitness, teamwork and resilience.
Batting – basic skill
- Able to score when opportunities present, rather than being overly cautious.
- Able to score on both sides of the wicket.
- Does not back away from the line of the ball, except if this is necessary to use a particular shot.
- Able to defend. This can include leaving a ball that poses unnecessary risk.
- When running between wickets, demonstrates rudimentary skills such as loud calling, turning in the correct direction, staying low at the turn, swapping the bat hand when running, sliding the bat and running the first run hard.
Batting – advanced skill
- Looks to score, rather than simply waiting for opportunities.
- Sound front and back-foot defence.
- Able to defend and attack against spin.
- Can rotate the strike.
- When running between wickets, demonstrates higher-level skill such as communicating with batting partners and accurately judging when additional runs can be taken.
Batting – prized skill
- Able to create scoring opportunities, regardless of the standard of bowling.
- Able to hit powerfully.
- Can play a dominant or passive role in a batting partnership.
- Can play a wide range of shots.
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Bowling – basic skill
- Has a repeatable action.
- Has the correct seam position, a smooth run-up, an effective jump and a steady head.
- Fast bowlers must be able to maintain above average pace with an adequate line and length.
- Spin bowlers must be able to spin the ball.
Bowling – advanced skill
- Able to change bowling, depending on whether the batter is left or right-handed.
- Fast bowlers: able to swing and/or use the seam to move the ball towards or away from the batter once the ball has bounced.
- Spin bowlers: able to flight the ball and land it in areas that challenge the batter.
Bowling – prized skill
- Able to attack or bowl defensively, as the situation demands.
- Able to change bowling to exploit a batter’s weaknesses.
- Able to bowl metronomically.
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Wicket keeping – basic skill
- Using two hands, able to catch deliveries of different speeds, lines and lengths reliably.
- Using two hands, able to catch returns to the stumps when returns are of different speeds and trajectories.
- Does not back away from fast bowling or flat, hard throws.
Wicket keeping – advanced skill
- Agile.
- Able to adjust position according to the speed and trajectory of the ball.
- Able to compensate for ball path deviations and when a return throw is inaccurate.
- Able to instruct fielders when to return the ball to the wicket keeper or bowler.
- Able to instruct fielders when to attempt a run out and when not to.
- Able to stump a batter.
Wicket keeping – prized skill
- Able to throw underarm accurately and the length of the pitch, while gloves are donned.
- Able to catch one-handed with both hands.
- Able to catch while diving.
- Able to advise the bowler about tactics against a batter and the captain about field positions.
- Anticipates the actions of batters.
- Anticipates the actions of fielders.
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Fielding – basic skill
- Able to catch reliably using two hands.
- Using over-arm technique, able to throw a good distance and accurately.
- Able to judge when to attempt a run-out and when to return the ball to the keeper or the bowler’s end.
- Able to stop a rolling ball reliably.
- Does not back away from an airborne ball.
Fielding – advanced skill
- When ground fielding, attacks the ball.
- Able to throw under-arm accurately.
- Able to judge correctly whether to throw the wicket keeper or the bowler’s end.
- When on the other side of the wicket from the thrower, backs up.
Fielding – prized skill
- Able to catch one-handed with both hands.
- Able to throw from the boundary to the pitch.