How to Become a Professional Cricketer
Cricket was not considered to be a sought-after profession about four decades ago because the players had to dedicate a lot of time and were not accordingly paid. However, heavy sponsorships started supporting the sport in the 1970s, especially after the inception of limited-overs cricket, with coloured kits and white balls coming to the fore. Today, international players have extremely high salaries and are considered superstars. In some countries, even domestic players earn sufficiently and don’t have to look for other jobs.
Instructions
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1
Be dedicated
Cricket demands immense physical fitness as well as mental strength, which cannot be achieved until or unless you are a hard worker and a dedicated sportsman. If you wish to become a professional cricketer, you have to adopt a methodical approach towards enhancing your skills, which is the difference between a professional and an amateur.
It is also important that you do not indulge yourself in harmful or non-productive activities such as smoking or drinking. -
2
Join a cricket club
Search for a good cricket club in your area to start your career. Most of the young boys start playing for their school or college, which is an ideal way to learn the game.
A club plays a crucial role in the development of a player. Playing alongside other professionals will help you enhance your abilities and develop the frame of mind required to excel in competitive cricket. -
3
Age-group cricket
Almost 90 percent of professional cricketers come through the ranks of age-group cricket. Some of the great cricketers like Brian Lara, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mushtaq Ahmed and Chris Gayle have represented their countries at the under-19 level.
Take part in domestic age-group cricket like under-13s, under-16s and under-19s. It will help you a great deal in gaining the attention of the authorities and will enhance your chances of having a bright professional career. -
4
First-class cricket
Once you start playing first-class cricket, you can be categorised as a professional cricketer. If you perform well at this level, you may get a chance to represent your country. On top of that, good first-class cricketers get opportunities to play franchise leagues in different parts of the world and earn handsomely.
