Selecting a team or squad to represent a country at cricket has always been a task that places huge demands on those elected to perform the deed. Thathas been the way in all sport and it is not going to change.
Certain critical components need to form part of any selection panel. These need to be clearly defined by thegeneral council before the makeup of a selection panel is decided.
It is logical that if this is not in place, a real possibility could be that incorrect persons are placed in an invidious position of having toperform a task that they may not be suitably qualified to do.
An issue that is not always understood is that cricketers, because of the nature of thegame itself, have always had a deep mistrust of anyone who has not walked the walk themselves, and do not suffer fools easily. The game is so fullof intricate subtleties that subjectivity and gut feel are very much part of the norm in deciding on selection matters.
To fulfil a successful role in performing the task of selection, which is very different to the achievement of success on the playing field, apanel must have credibility in its favour.
Achieving this credibility at the outset will be determined by only one factor,ie, the experience of the members making up the panel itself. The chosen leader of thepanel has to ensure certain basic requirements are in place.
These critical factors are:
- Trust between all members on the panel.
- Trust between the governing body and the panel.
- Trust between the panel and the coaching and playing staff.
- Honesty and integrity.
- Accountability.
- Excellent channels of communication between all role players.
- A passion for achieving success.
- A vision for the future.
- To ensure the availability of information to make informed decisions.
- To have the respect of the cricketing fraternity.
It has become quite apparent that the current South African selection panelhas, at times, not adhered to these critical success factors and that their credibility has been compromised. Sadly this has been aired in the mediaand speculation over many issues has become rife. The real loser has been the game itself.
The remuneration for serving on a selection panel very rarely equates to the value of the commitment and effort required to perform the task and can bea thankless one for those chosen to serve, and without the correct supportstructures in place, can have far reaching consequences on the credibility of the individuals that form the panel itself.
The choosing of a convener and a selection panel is as critical to the success of the UCB as any other facet of the entire operation and shouldnever be taken lightly under any circumstance.
History has shown that problems in this area of governance inevitably lead to poor on-field performances.
That is the way of cricket.
