Broome’s new selection criteria pays off

A new approach to fielding its winning Country Week cricket team in January this year resulted in Broome Cricket Association being bowled over with an award of special recognition at the Broome Sports Awards.

Association president James Carpenter said that in the past, the team representing Broome at country week usually depended on who could afford the trip.

However, last year the association decided on a new model to base selection of representatives on performance throughout the season and to source grants and sponsorship to cover expenses.

Carpenter said it had worked brilliantly, allowing passage for a number of players, including some talented indigenous cricketers, who may not have previously been able to attend because of the cost.

He said the “Broome 12”, made up of the best performing three players from each club during the 2011 season, were undefeated at Country Week in January.

“It worked so well – it had the unintended consequence that a lot of the guys were quite honoured to be selected, which is great because they are competitive sportsmen and we were unashamedly saying they had done well,” Carpenter said.

“And it is proving sustainable, so it’s a great thing for the association to be recognised for.”

He said the association has also noticed less antagonism among clubs and more unity throughout this season as a result.

The squad who will contest Country Week in the New Year have recently been named and have started training.