Talent identification (TID) in cricket has gained significant scholarly interest over the last twenty years, but the evidence gathered so far is still quite scattered across various fields like biomechanics, perceptual-cognitive skills, psychology, physiology, and socio-environmental factors. This review brings together peer-reviewed studies focusing on the physical, technical, and psychological traits linked to success in cricket, referencing systematic reviews and original research that cover batting, bowling, and wicket-keeping (Brown et al., 2023). The findings suggest that biomechanical and technical elements-especially the kinematics of bowling related to peak ball-release speed and specific batting techniques like the "lateral back-lift"-along with perceptual-cognitive abilities to anticipate the type of delivery, are the most thoroughly examined and consistently distinguishing factors between high- and low-skilled cricketers (Brown et al., 2023). Additionally, psychological aspects, particularly mental toughness, have proven to be reliable indicators of batting skill (Weissensteiner et al., 2012; Gucciardi & Gordon, 2009) and are increasingly recognized as being significantly influenced by an athlete's developmental environment rather than being inherent traits (Gucciardi, 2011; Bell et al., 2013). On the other hand, physiological and anthropometric factors have not been studied as extensively and show more variable links to performance (Nunes & Coetzee, 2007; Taliep et al., 2010), while environmental factors like socio-cultural context and relative age effects are still largely unexplored (Brown et al., 2023).

One significant gap in the research is the almost complete historical oversight of female cricketers - a gap that recent scoping reviews and empirical studies are just starting to address (Full Article, 2025; Callaghan et al., 2024). This review wraps up by highlighting the implications for coaches, selectors, and cricket academies, while also pinpointing key areas for future research. These include women's cricket, socio-cultural barriers, and the need for integrated multi-domain testing batteries.