Character belongs in youth selection at under 15 and under 18, Ben argues, because traits left unaddressed become much harder to correct by under 21. He suggests picking your best 30 on field performance, then actually talking to them, and watching for signs like whether a player chases back, abuses the umpire or ignores the coach’s direction. Between two equally skilled players, the better character gets picked. Watch the full masterclass: Off ball skills.
