County Cricket provides the opportunity for our very best players to test themselves against the best players in other Counties. Players are nominated by Clubs to attend District trials and from the four Districts the best players are selected to form a squad. There will normally be a programme of 8 to 12 matches interspersed with Middle practices to ensure that performances are reviewed and evaluated.

County Sides are run at U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15 and U17 and also at Under 13 and Under 15 for Girls. County Coaches run their own winter training programmes to ensure players are prepared mentally and physically for the challenging season ahead.

Players who play County Cricket are in the shop window for selection for Academy/EPP programmes for Dorset and also for the First Class Counties. However County Cricket in itself is a wonderful experience that players will never forget and offers lifelong friendships and experiences particularly when players are involved in tours and festivals that take place at various age groups. Results and performances are updated on this website.

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