For District Cricket purposes, Dorset is divided into 4 Districts; East, South, North and West. The East District includes the large conurbations of Bournemouth and extends to Christchurch and the far East of the County. South Dorset covers the Poole and Purbeck area extending north to Wimborne. The North District Includes Blandford and all areas North to Sherborne and Stalbridge and West takes in the Towns of Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport, Beaminster and also the Isle of Portland.

In each District we have District Associations who organise the Club Junior Leagues as well as winter training and matches for the players picked to represent their District. Trials are normally held in November for this selection. Each player is then invited to attend the winter training to prepare for the District competition held in the early and late summer. There are age groups at U10, U11, U12, U13, U14 and U15.

Each squad will play the other District once at venues throughout the County. Normally there are two games in May and another in August/September. Fixture list can be found on this website. There is also a B team District competition for players who are not County players.

County teams are selected by the County Coaches who will attend District games and assess players at these games. District Cricket is an essential part of the structure of representative cricket as it gives players an opportunity to play longer format games and to develop their skills at good grounds on good pitches. Results of these matches will be posted on the website as soon as they are available.

Dorset Cricket Board Selection policy.

The Dorset Cricket Board is responsible for the organisation of both District and County Representative Cricket. Trials and assessments are held during the Autumn and winter squads are formed based on those trials and knowledge of players gained in previous seasons. The Board appoint Coaches and Managers to each squad and they are responsible for final selection in conjunction with the District Head Coaches and the County Head Coach. Where a parent is part of this team they are not able to have a say in selection.

Coaches are asked to run teams because they are experienced and have ECB Level 2 coaching qualifications or above. The Board recognises that selection can be a difficult and subjective process and fully supports the Coaches in their final decisions. Experience indicates that the better players will progress to the squads in time and parents are asked to be patient and understanding during this process. Players develop at different times and at different rates and a skilful coach will identify potential in all players and help them to fulfil that potential. Coaches are also often acting in a voluntary capacity and the Board cannot expect them to answer numerous enquiries regarding the selection process. Anyone with a grievance regarding selection should contact the age group coach first but only if they have grounds for believing that unfair practice has occurred and is able to provide evidence. If the issue cannot be resolved then the County Development Manager should be contacted.

The Dorset Cricket Board believes that Cricket is a sport which encourages fair play and teaches discipline as well as helping children to deal with disappointment and overcome it. The Board encourages all players not selected to work hard and to improve where possible and make their way back into contention for selection. Representative Cricket is very competitive and it is a great honour for any player to be selected and it requires hard work and commitment for this to happen. The Board ask that parents understand that it is not possible for the Coaches to get every decision 100 per cent correct and encourage all players to prove that they are worthy of selection.

Keith Brewer

Dorset CDM