Panthers Cricket Trials 2026–27

Cricket Selection Criteria

Panthers Cricket Trials 2026–27 are designed to provide a clear, fair and measurable selection process. Students are assessed through age-appropriate net-based activities in batting, bowling and fielding. Each student receives the same number of opportunities, and scores are recorded using clear criteria so that selection decisions are based on evidence, consistency and age-appropriate cricket performance.

How the Cricket Trial Will Be Assessed

The trial is conducted mainly through structured net sessions. Each student completes a fixed number of batting balls, bowling deliveries and fielding opportunities. The focus changes by age group so that younger students are assessed on fundamental skill and safety, while older students are assessed on technical quality, tactical awareness and performance under pressure.

Batting 10 balls in the nets. Students are assessed on contact, balance, shot selection, target-zone hitting and age-appropriate batting skills.

Bowling 10 deliveries. Students are assessed on legal action, control, accuracy, target-zone bowling and age-appropriate variation.

Fielding 10 fielding opportunities. Students are assessed on clean stops, throwing accuracy, catching technique and safe fielding execution.

Important: The student’s performance is recorded through measurable evidence such as target hits, controlled contacts, legal deliveries, accurate throws and clean catches.

Simple Scoring System

Each action is scored out of 2 points. This keeps the process simple, consistent and easy for parents and students to understand.

Score	Meaning	Example Evidence
2 points	Skill performed correctly with control and a clear successful outcome.	Controlled batting contact into target zone, legal delivery in bowling target zone, clean catch or accurate throw.
1 point	Skill attempted with partial success, but accuracy, balance, control or decision-making needs improvement.	Contact made but outside target zone, legal delivery close to target, clean stop but inaccurate throw.
0 points	Unsuccessful attempt, unsafe technique, poor control or incorrect decision.	Missed ball, unsafe shot, wide/no-ball, misfield, dropped catch or poor execution.

/20 Batting Score

/20 Bowling Score

/20 Fielding Score

The total trial score is calculated out of 60 points.

Under 9 Under 11 Under 14 Under 17 & 19

Under 9 Cricket Trial Criteria

At Under 9 level, the focus is on safe participation, basic cricket movements, hand-eye coordination, simple batting contact, straight-arm bowling and enthusiasm for learning.

Fundamental Skills Safety Basic Contact Simple Rules

Under 9 Measurable Net Trial Rubric

Area	Skill Tested	Measurable Outcome	Scoring	Max Points
Batting	Basic contact and balance	Makes controlled contact with a safe bat swing and balanced body position.	2 = clean controlled contact 1 = contact with limited control 0 = miss or unsafe swing	/8
Batting	Straight hitting	Hits the ball towards a straight target zone in the net.	2 = hits straight target zone 1 = contact outside zone 0 = miss or poor contact	/6
Batting	Safe shot response	Watches the ball and responds safely without a wild swing.	2 = safe controlled response 1 = partial control 0 = unsafe or uncontrolled shot	/6
Bowling	Straight-arm action	Bowls with a legal straight-arm action and lands the ball on the pitch.	2 = legal action and lands on pitch 1 = legal action but poor direction 0 = throw/no-ball/unsafe	/10
Bowling	Pitch target accuracy	Lands the ball in or near a marked target area on the pitch.	2 = lands in target zone 1 = lands close 0 = wide or does not reach target area	/10
Fielding	Stop and pick up	Stops a rolling ball and picks it up safely.	2 = clean stop and pickup 1 = stop but slow/unclean pickup 0 = misfield	/8
Fielding	Short throw accuracy	Throws towards a nearby stump or target zone.	2 = accurate throw to target 1 = throw reaches area but misses 0 = inaccurate or unsafe throw	/6
Fielding	Soft catching	Attempts soft catches safely with correct hand position.	2 = clean catch 1 = good attempt/touch 0 = missed or unsafe catching position	/6

Under 11 Cricket Trial Criteria

At Under 11 level, the focus is on developing fundamental technique. Students are expected to show improving control in batting, legal and accurate bowling, safe fielding and basic understanding of match situations.

Foundation Technique Basic Shot Range Improved Accuracy Team Play

Under 11 Measurable Net Trial Rubric

Area	Skill Tested	Measurable Outcome	Scoring	Max Points
Batting	Contact and balance	Makes controlled contact from a stable stance.	2 = controlled contact with balance 1 = contact but limited balance/control 0 = miss or poor control	/6
Batting	Front-foot drive	Drives the ball towards straight or cover target zone.	2 = clean drive through target zone 1 = contact but misses zone 0 = miss or poor contact	/6
Batting	Back-foot response	Responds safely to a short-of-length delivery.	2 = controlled back-foot response 1 = contact but limited control 0 = miss or unsafe response	/4
Batting	Decision-making	Makes an appropriate shot choice or running call.	2 = correct decision 1 = delayed/unclear decision 0 = poor or unsafe decision	/4
Bowling	Legal action and control	Bowls legal deliveries with basic direction.	2 = legal delivery with control 1 = legal delivery but inconsistent direction 0 = no-ball/wide/unsafe action	/8
Bowling	Line and length	Lands the ball in or near a good-length target zone.	2 = lands in target zone 1 = close to target zone 0 = wide/no-ball/poor control	/8
Bowling	Stump-line accuracy	Bowls towards the stump line.	2 = hits/targets stump line 1 = close to stump line 0 = wide/no-ball	/4
Fielding	Ground fielding	Moves towards the ball, stops it and picks it up cleanly.	2 = clean stop and pickup 1 = stop but slow/unclean pickup 0 = misfield	/8
Fielding	Throwing accuracy	Throws accurately towards stump or target zone.	2 = accurate throw 1 = throw reaches area but misses 0 = poor or unsafe throw	/6
Fielding	Basic catching	Catches safely with correct technique.	2 = clean catch 1 = good attempt/touch 0 = missed or unsafe technique	/6

Under 14 Cricket Trial Criteria

At Under 14 level, students are assessed on more specific technical skills. The focus is on shot execution, target-zone batting, bowling line and length, basic variation, accurate fielding and simple tactical decision-making.

Technical Consistency Target Zones Line & Length Basic Tactics

Under 14 Measurable Net Trial Rubric

Area	Skill Tested	Measurable Outcome	Scoring	Max Points
Batting	Contact and balance	Makes controlled contact with correct body shape.	2 = controlled contact and balance 1 = contact but limited control 0 = miss or poor shape	/4
Batting	Straight drive	Hits the ball through a straight target zone.	2 = clean straight drive through zone 1 = contact outside zone 0 = miss or poor contact	/4
Batting	Cover drive	Hits the ball through a cover target zone.	2 = clean cover drive through zone 1 = contact outside zone 0 = miss or poor execution	/4
Batting	Back-foot drive	Hits the ball through point or cover-point target zone.	2 = clean back-foot drive through zone 1 = contact outside zone 0 = miss or poor execution	/4
Batting	Shot selection	Chooses an appropriate shot based on the delivery.	2 = correct shot decision and control 1 = partly suitable decision 0 = poor decision or unsafe shot	/4
Bowling	Line and length	Lands the ball in a good-length target zone.	2 = lands in target zone 1 = close to target zone 0 = wide/no-ball/poor control	/8
Bowling	Stump-line accuracy	Bowls at off-stump or middle-stump channel.	2 = hits planned channel 1 = close to planned channel 0 = wide/no-ball/poor control	/6
Bowling	Variation attempt	Attempts slower ball, swing, spin or change of length with control.	2 = clear variation with control 1 = variation attempted but inconsistent 0 = no control or no clear variation	/6
Fielding	Attacking ground fielding	Moves to the ball, picks it up cleanly and stays balanced.	2 = clean pickup with balance 1 = pickup but slow/unclean 0 = misfield	/8
Fielding	Throw at target	Throws accurately to stump or target zone.	2 = accurate throw 1 = reaches area but misses target 0 = poor or unsafe throw	/6
Fielding	Flat/high catches	Takes catches under age-appropriate difficulty.	2 = clean catch with correct technique 1 = good attempt/touch 0 = drop, miss or unsafe technique	/6

Under 17 & 19 Cricket Trial Criteria

At Under 17 & 19 level, students are expected to show stronger performance under pressure. The focus is on role execution, tactical decision-making, controlled batting options, phase-specific bowling and high-intensity fielding.

Pressure Performance Role Execution Tactical Decisions High-Intensity Fielding

Under 17 & 19 Measurable Net Trial Rubric

Area	Skill Tested	Measurable Outcome	Scoring	Max Points
Batting	New-ball control	Leaves, defends or drives appropriately with control.	2 = correct decision and controlled execution 1 = contact but poor decision/control 0 = miss or poor shot selection	/4
Batting	Strike rotation	Places the ball into a single zone with clear intent.	2 = controlled placement into single zone 1 = contact but poor placement 0 = miss or poor decision	/4
Batting	Back-foot or pace response	Plays short-of-length delivery with balance and control.	2 = controlled back-foot response 1 = contact with limited control 0 = miss or unsafe response	/4
Batting	Boundary option	Executes an attacking shot into a target zone.	2 = attacking shot into target zone 1 = good contact outside zone 0 = miss or poor execution	/4
Batting	Scenario batting	Plays according to a given match situation.	2 = correct option for scenario 1 = partly suitable decision 0 = poor decision	/4
Bowling	Powerplay control	Bowls disciplined line and length to a planned target.	2 = hits planned target zone 1 = close to planned target 0 = wide/no-ball/poor control	/6
Bowling	Middle-over variation	Executes stock ball or variation with control.	2 = accurate stock ball/variation 1 = attempted but inconsistent 0 = poor control	/6
Bowling	Death-over execution	Attempts yorker, wide yorker or slower ball into target zone.	2 = lands in planned target zone 1 = close to planned target 0 = wide/no-ball/poor execution	/8
Fielding	High-intensity ground fielding	Clean pickup at speed with body control.	2 = clean pickup at speed 1 = pickup but slow/unclean 0 = misfield	/6
Fielding	Direct-hit throw	Throws accurately at stump or target under pressure.	2 = direct hit or accurate target throw 1 = clean pickup but throw misses 0 = poor throw or misfield	/6
Fielding	Pressure catching	Takes catches under realistic match pressure.	2 = clean catch 1 = good attempt/touch 0 = drop or miss	/8

Selection Bands

The final score helps place students into a selection band. The band supports the selection decision, but coaches may also consider squad balance and role requirements such as wicketkeeper, batter, bowler or all-rounder.

Final Percentage	Selection Band	Meaning
85–100%	Strong Selection	Student clearly meets the expected team standard for the age group.
70–84%	Selection Consideration	Student meets many criteria and may be selected depending on team balance and role needs.
55–69%	Development / Reserve	Student shows potential but needs more consistency before regular competitive selection.
Below 55%	Training Group	Student requires further skill development before competitive selection.