One of the more frequently asked questions by readers here at PitchVision Academy is "how do I become a professional cricketer?"

It's a simple question, asked by many from 11 year old youngsters just starting their journey to hardened guys in their late 20s still looking for a chance to shine in cricket.

It's a question most common in India and Pakistan, but we also hear it from every country with a professional setup (and some even without one).

The answer is never simple though.

The truth is that there is no single answer that can cover everyone's situation. But we can give you some pointers based on the experience of players and coaches who have got through the system.

Yes you need luck, yes you need hard work and yes you need drive that is far beyond your peers. Start with those three and work through the articles below for even more practical advice:

Introduction

• What Are Your Chances?
• What's the Age Barrier?
• There is No Such Thing as the X-Factor
• What Makes the Best Cricketers so Good?
• Becoming a Rock Star Cricketer
• Golden Rules of Success

Hard Work: Robust Confidence

• The Law of 10,000
• What Goes Into 10,000 Hours?
• Coaching Talent into Yourself and Others
• What's the Missing Link?
• Practice Like a Physical Genius
• The Science of Developing Skill
• The Chris Rock Guide to Deliberate Practice
• Building Skill with Purposeful Practice
• Deliberate Practice in Bowling
• Building Confidence by Ignoring Form
• Using 'Stimuli Identification' in Practice
• 6 Shortcuts to Become an Excellent Batsman
• Mental Training is as Effective as Nets

Academy Tips

• How to Join an Academy
• How to Play Like an Academy Cricketer
• Setting Goals Like an Academy Player
• How to Join PitchVision Academy
• Inside Masterstroke Academy, Mumbai
• How Fit are Academy Cricketers?

Wise Old Pro Tactics

• Be a Cricket Ninja
• Exploit Batsman's Weaknesses
• Work With the Umpire
• 6 Comeback Tips for Older Players

Professionals to Emulate

• Kevin Pietersen
• MS Dhoni
• Nathan Bracken
• R Ashwin
• Irfan Pathan
• Adrian Shaw
• Michael Bevan
• Des Haynes
• JP Duminy
• Muhammad Haroon
• India's Practice Methods

Dangers

• 3 Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making
• Drills: A Word of Warning
• How to Avoid Giving Up
• Is this One Word Stopping You from Becoming a Cricketer?
• Is Your Cricket Mindless?
• How to Bounce Back from Failure

Appendix

• Becoming a Professional Cricketer in the UK
• Becoming a Professional Cricketer in India
• Becoming a Twenty20 Specialist Mercenary