Cricket selectors set the standards, culture and professionalism

Recently I was asked how a team, club or association can be more professional and build the standards and culture to be more successful.

It is a great question and one I'm sure where we all have our own opinions.

In my opinion, irrespective of the standard or level of cricket or the purpose for which people play, everything starts at the selection table.

Suppose the selectors of a cricket team select the players they believe will act and perform in the team's best interest. In that case, the desired outcomes of professionalism and standards sort themselves out.

Problems start, fester and can cause untold issues when selectors bow to self-interest, agendas, politics, or anything other than selecting players on performance or outside the purpose of the team and its ambition.

People will ask why a player is consistently performing and not being selected.

All selectors have the right and should be able to select a player based on talent alone. A player they believe could become a special player and benefit from playing at a higher standard at an earlier age.

In such a case, the selectors need to back their judgment and give the player an extended run so the player gets the opportunity to build confidence and consistency in their performance.

The challenge for selectors is if, for example, the player struggles in their performance, the selectors need to act in the best interest of the player and the team.

Selectors being transparent in selecting players on performances and, at times, taking a calculated punt on a player's talent all form part of building a successful team.

It's ok for a player to miss out on selection because other players are always deserving of an opportunity.

It could be a blessing in disguise for a player to be dropped from a team. There are many examples of cricketing greats who've been dropped from their international team and returned to first class cricket to fine-tune their game, perform consistently and be selected again to be far greater players.

The selection table is as important in premier, club, park, junior, school, and veteran's cricket as it is for international and first-class cricket. It's all relative.

It's disappointing and frustrating to hear stories of self-interest, agendas and politics playing a part at the selection table.

We play cricket because we enjoy the game and everything it delivers. It's a game for all.

Some people want to play for fun; others want to compete, win, and have fun doing so. There's nothing wrong with either, but at any level or purpose, it's up to the selectors to ensure their selection process reflects the desired outcome of the team, club, or association.

If you allow unnecessary noise to enter your thought process as a selector, please remember you'll not only deny another person an opportunity, but you'll be denying yourself and the team, club, or association the opportunity to build what you're hoping to achieve.

Standards and culture start at the selection table.