Cricket trial-prep checklist (T-7 days)

Days 7 to 5: last useful work

Finish your hard work here. Batters take a long net with a purpose — leaving, defence and one scoring option against pace, then spin. Bowlers bowl one full intensity spell of six overs with a proper run-up, not half-paced from a shortened mark. Fielders do the boring part: high catches into the sun, flat catches at chest height, and twenty throws from the boundary to the keeper's end.

• One long net at full intensity, then reduce volume for the rest of the week.
• Bowlers: one six-over spell off the full run-up, then no more than three overs a day.
• Confirm the trial time, venue, age band, reporting time and required documents in writing.
• Break in new shoes now if you must wear them — never on the day.

Days 4 to 2: taper and rehearse

Cut volume by roughly half and keep intensity sharp. Short, crisp sessions maintain feel without accumulating fatigue. Rehearse the trial itself: bat in the same order of shots you will be asked for, bowl to a set field, and practise the two-minute warm-up you will do on the day so it is automatic.

1. 1Day 4: 30-minute net at match intensity, then throwdowns for timing only.
2. 2Day 3: fielding and running between wickets; no heavy gym work.
3. 3Day 2: light skills, full mobility session, early night.
4. 4Pack your bag on Day 2, not the night before — it removes the panic search.

Day 1: kit, food and sleep

Eat familiar food only. Aim for a normal carbohydrate-heavy dinner, keep hydration steady across the day rather than drinking a litre at once, and be in bed early enough for at least eight hours. Nothing new — no new supplement, no new energy drink, no new shoes.

Trial day: the parts you control

• Arrive at least 45 minutes before reporting time and report to the official desk yourself.
• Do a full 15-minute warm-up before you are called; assume you will get no notice.
• Introduce yourself clearly to the coach with your name, age group and role.
• Field like the trial has already started — most selectors form their first opinion in the fielding drills.
• If you fail early, keep your energy visible for the rest of the day. Attitude is scored, formally or not.

Never hand over original documents. Carry copies to submit and keep originals in your bag for inspection only.

After the trial

Write down what you were asked to do and how you performed while it is fresh, and photograph any result or attendance sheet. Ask the coach one specific question — the single thing to improve before the next trial. Then take two easy days: sleep, light movement and normal food. That record and that feedback are what turn one trial into a pathway rather than a one-off day out.