SELECTION & TALENT ID The process of talent identification is multifaceted and ever evolving. It is an ongoing process that adapts, evolves, and improves over time. This section gives an idea of how we select, what we select on and the process of selection for all players COACH JUDGEMENT Coach judgment is crucial in talent identification and selection. Coaches rely on their experience, judgement, evidence, opinion and intuition to assess a player's potential and capabilities. Throughout the program our Pathway coaches will evaluate players fundamentals against the Pathway Framework. The coaches are able to use a strong awareness of Pathway cricket to observe technical skills, tactical awareness, game understanding, and strategic thinking. PLAYER POTENTIAL Player statistics form a small part of Pathway selection however a players potential is a key selection factor. The evidence says that until the U18 age group, there is no link between statistics and players long term success at senior/professional level. This is where a player’s ability to demonstrate the skills within the Framework is so important as these are all directly transferable to the high level of cricket that they aspire to play. TRAINING HISTORY Understanding a player's cricket journey and current access to the sport helps us gauge their developmental potential. This information is particularly valuable for newcomers or those with limited exposure to the game ATHLETICISM Assessing a player's athleticism is crucial for their development. We look at their movement abilities and overall physical coordination to determine how well they can perform certain aspects of the game MATURATION In the Rookie phase, we consider growth and maturation data to ensure fair comparisons among players of similar biological age. This is especially important for players aged U12-U15, as early matures may have advantages over their later developing peers as well as players born in the early part of the year vs those born late in in the year. ADAPTABILITY Players in the Pathway are exposed to progressively higher levels of challenge. Those who demonstrate an awareness and ability to learn from and cope with challenges tend to excel. We assess how quickly players adapt, learn, and embrace new ideas EXPLORATION We evaluate how players approach tough situations, challenges, and adversity. Their ability to handle discomfort and push beyond their comfort zones, as well as their willingness to adapt and improve, is key to their development COMPETITIVENESS We evaluate players competitive nature towards seeking continuous growth and improvement and their ability to be tenacious and stay in the fight when things get tough.
