Oxfordshire Seniors Selection Policy

Ethos
At Oxfordshire Seniors Cricket, we are committed to putting the fair treatment of our playing members at the very forefront of what we do, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexuality, or social/economic status. The spirit of cricket is at the core of how all our teams play the game, and all players must respect the values of cricket and behave appropriately. Every player must adhere to the County’s Code of Conduct & Safeguarding policies. To be considered for selection, each player must be a fully paid-up member and have paid their match fees each week. We are one club and therefore would expect players to wear the County kit.

Selection Criteria
All team selections will be based on cricketing ability. The key considerations at selection meetings will be each player’s overall performance, current form, and their commitment to playing for Oxfordshire Seniors
and to the County in general. When, for league and knockout matches, there are more players available than places available, team selection will be based on a combination of:

• Team balance: The needs of each team in terms of batting, bowling, fielding, and
  leadership.
• A player’s positive attitude towards the club, opposition, coaches, and other
  players, and whether they have been selected already for a different age group in
  the same week.

With regard to the different age groups, players will be expected to give priority to the age groups that reflect their age i.e. players aged 60 to 69 giving priority to over 60s cricket and players aged 70+ giving priority to over 70s cricket. Some counties have adopted the policy that players can only play in one age group i.e. over 50s or over 60s or over 70s only. Oxfordshire Seniors Cricket will not adopt this policy for the 2026 season given the 2025 experience when the policy would have left the over 60s 3rd X1 short of players on a number of occasions. When the teams have been selected, the captains will select players (a batter and a bowler in the 2nds, 3rds & 4ths and from those left unselected) who will be asked to step up to the team “above” should anybody become unavailable. This will make covering any withdrawals easier and give those players the heads-up that they may be asked, possibly at short notice, to play at a different venue than originally indicated.

Players’ responsibilities:
Please respond both clearly and promptly to the secretary when availabilities are requested (e.g. the 4 week availability chart). Should your availability subsequently change, please inform the secretary with immediate effect. In addition to the above, all players will be asked by your captain each week (after
your game) for your availability for the following week. This does not necessarily guarantee selection, or guarantee that you will be in the same side, but it will help with the weekly team selection meeting(s).

Communication:
The aim will be to announce the teams, at the latest, by midday each Friday for the 60s/70s and by Sunday evening for the 50s. Hopefully, however, earlier announcements will be possible so that transport arrangements can be made as soon as possible. Venue information and start times should be available on Play Cricket prior to the teams being announced but this information will be confirmed,
alongside the tea arrangements, when the teams are announced. When a player is selected to play in a team at a “lower” level than the previous week, they will receive a phone call from the captain to explain the reasons why. If this call is not answered, then a text will be sent explaining the reasons for the selection decision. This will aid the smooth running of the overall selection process and will help to achieve a prompt announcement of the teams each week. Each side will only be announced once the captain has made any such phone calls
or texts.

The teams are announced in order, starting with the 1st team, with our aim to have all of the 2nd, 3rd, and the 4th teams announced on the same day. There may however be some delay until later in the week in the event of any availability issues. If any player has any concerns or considers that they are not being treated fairly we ask that, in the first instance, they approach the captain discreetly to discuss their
concerns. If the player does not feel comfortable doing so, or does not feel satisfied with the result of that conversation, then please do raise any such concerns in the first instance with the Chairman of their age group or with the Oxfordshire Seniors Chairman.

Darryl Woods

Oxfordshire Seniors Chairman