Cricket Mind Podcast

Why does India continue to produce so many outstanding cricketers — and what can young players and coaches in England learn from the Indian approach?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by former Indian first-class cricketer Raj Chaudhuri, founder of the First Class Cricket Academy in Sussex.

Raj reflects on growing up within India’s fiercely competitive cricket culture, where young players learned through street cricket, high-volume practice and exposure to older, stronger opponents. He also explores the differences between developing players in India and England — from talent identification and coaching standards to playing surfaces, junior formats and attitudes towards winning.

The conversation also examines Raj’s philosophy of confidence through competence: building genuine self-belief through strong fundamentals, repetition and the ability to perform skills consistently under pressure.

• Raj’s journey from street cricket in India to first-class cricket and coaching in England
• The influence of Sunil Gavaskar and MS Dhoni on Indian cricket
• Why young Indian players regularly train and compete alongside older players
• India’s uncompromising approach to talent identification
• The role of repetition, volume and strong fundamentals in player development
• Raj’s first experience of English club cricket — and the culture shock it created
• The strengths and weaknesses of cricket development in India and England
• Why junior playing conditions can influence which players receive recognition
• What Raj means by confidence through competence
• What young players can learn from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul

00:00 – Why does India produce so many great cricketers?

01:56 – Raj’s journey from street cricket to first-class cricket

06:32 – India’s ruthless approach to selection and talent identification

16:25 – Street cricket, Sunil Gavaskar and MS Dhoni’s influence

20:25 – How Indian academies test commitment and character

23:00 – Raj’s culture shock playing club cricket in England

30:26 – How coaching and practice differ between India and England

39:10 – What Indian and English cricket can learn from each other

41:04 – Building confidence through competence

42:57 – What young cricketers can learn from India’s best players

Find out more about the First Class Cricket Academy

Raj is the founder of the First Class Cricket Academy, which provides cricket coaching and player-development opportunities in Sussex.

Website: www.fccaltd.co.uk

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A duck can feel much bigger than it looks on a scorecard.

In this episode of the Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock answer real questions from parents of young cricketers: what to say after another duck, how to help when a child puts huge pressure on themselves, and how to support them through the inevitable highs and lows of the game.

They discuss how parents can be a steady source of support without accidentally making cricket feel heavier — whether that means handling difficult emotions, navigating trials, or balancing the roles of parent, coach, manager or umpire.

In this episode:

• What to say — and what not to say — when your child gets out for nought
• Why cricket can feel so individual, even though it is a team sport
• How Play-Cricket, statistics and comparison can add pressure
• How to support a child who puts huge pressure on themselves
• What to do when emotions spill over after a poor performance
• How to help a young player approach cricket trials with more clarity
• The challenges of being a parent as well as a coach, manager or umpire
• Why your child does not need you to be perfect — but does need to know you are on their side

00:00 — Supporting young cricketers: the questions parents ask

02:58 — What should you say when your child gets a duck?

05:50 — Why cricket feels so individual

14:20 — When your child puts huge pressure on themselves

21:01 — Anger, tears and meltdowns after poor performances

30:19 — Supporting a child at cricket trials

35:55 — Being a parent, coach, manager or umpire

45:44 — Preparing for Trials Workshop

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What helps some young cricketers grow through adversity while others become stuck?

Why do some players lose confidence after a setback, while others use it as a catalyst for improvement?

In this episode of the Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood is joined by Faisal Shahid, Academy Manager for Warwickshire Women, to explore the psychology of long-term player development.

Drawing on his experiences as an England U17 player, MCC Young Cricketer, professional cricketer and high-performance coach, Faisal shares his insights on confidence, resilience, motivation, identity and the ability to "survive bad days".

Whether you're a player, parent or coach, this conversation is packed with practical lessons to help young cricketers navigate setbacks, maintain motivation and continue developing through the ups and downs of the game.

• What long-term development actually looks like

• Why confidence is about surviving bad days

• The dangers of becoming obsessed with outcomes

• How setbacks can become opportunities for growth

• Why some players thrive through adversity while others struggle

• The role parents play in shaping confidence

• How to balance ambition with enjoyment

• Why identity and performance should remain separate

• What boys' and girls' cricket can learn from each other

• The biggest myths in youth cricket

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

02:41 – Long-Term Player Development

12:37 – Confidence and Surviving Bad Days

21:47 – Setbacks, Adversity and Resilience

34:09 – Motivation and Enjoyment

45:43 – Identity and Performance

48:44 – Coaching Boys and Girls

53:27 – Quickfire Questions

Please subscribe to the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with a player, parent or coach who you think might find it helpful.

Cricket Mind Online is hosting an online workshop for cricket parents on Tuesday 16th June at 7pm.

The workshop will explore practical ways parents can support confidence, resilience, enjoyment, motivation and long-term development in young cricketers.

Book your place here:

https://cricketmind.online/supporting-young-cricketers-workshop/

Website: www.cricketmind.online

Email: [email protected]

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Why do so many talented young cricketers stop enjoying the game?

And do players really need to be in a talent pathway from a young age to have a realistic chance of becoming a professional cricketer?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by ECB Level 4 coach and coach developer Ben Silver for an honest conversation about talent pathways, cricket trials, player development, coaching overload, and what actually helps young cricketers improve over the long term.

Ben has worked across county cricket, England pathways, ECB Disability Cricket, and high-performance coaching — giving him a unique perspective on what coaches and selectors really look for, why some players thrive while others burn out, and how young cricketers can develop without losing their enjoyment of the game.

Alongside this, Ben also works with Cricket Mind Online as a high-performance coach, helping players optimise the quality of their training and practice routines.

In this episode:

• What selectors actually look for in cricket trials
• Why “high ceiling” players stand out
• The truth about county age-group pathways
• Whether players need early pathway selection to succeed
• Why some talented players stop enjoying cricket
• Coaching overload and social media cricket advice
• The importance of messy practice and game-based learning
• Why player development is rarely linear
• What parents should really focus on

Timestamps:

00:00 — Jimmy Anderson and the Lancashire U15 “B” team

02:05 — Introducing Ben Silver

03:17 — What coaches and selectors look for at trials

07:33 — Risk vs reward during cricket trials

11:13 — Confidence, bravery and coachability

16:35 — Do players need to be in talent pathways early?

22:57 — Why some talented players stop enjoying cricket

34:38 — Are young cricketers being over-coached?

42:42 — Long-term development vs short-term winning

55:58 — What “messy practice” actually means

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Why do some players stay in cricket for years… while others quietly drift away?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by coach Laura de Silva and player Charlotte Bernstein for a powerful conversation about confidence, pressure, enjoyment, and the environments that keep players coming back.

This episode offers a unique perspective from both sides of the same environment — a coach working to build meaningful relationships and supportive cultures, and a young player experiencing those environments firsthand.

The conversation explores girls’ cricket, but the lessons apply across the game for players, parents and coaches alike.

• Why players really drop out of cricket
• The importance of confidence and enjoyment
• Why “unlucky” is banned in Laura’s coaching environments
• Building strong coach–player relationships
• Pressure, expectations and performance
• The difference between boys’ and girls’ cricket environments
• How coaches can create environments players want to return to
• Why support matters more than frustration
• Managing cricket alongside GCSEs, school and life
• The role friendships play in long-term engagement
• Why great environments help players perform better

00:00 – Are we still losing too many players from cricket?

01:01 – Introducing Laura de Silva & Charlotte Bernstein

02:56 – What makes players want to keep turning up?

06:01 – What great coaches do differently

14:11 – What makes a strong coach–player relationship?

22:44 – Building real confidence in players

27:32 – Why “unlucky” is banned

30:06 – Pressure, expectations and performance

38:15 – Have you ever thought about quitting cricket?

45:06 – Why there still aren’t enough female coaches in cricket

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If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another player, parent or coach involved in the game.

Why do so many cricketers perform well in nets… but struggle in matches?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock answer listener questions around early-season performance struggles — from confidence and expectations to training that doesn’t transfer into games.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve “gone backwards” despite a strong winter, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do about it.

• Why how you feel before batting doesn’t predict performance
• The real reason nets don’t transfer into matches
• Why early-season struggles are completely normal
• How chasing past performances can hold you back
• How to respond to a poor team performance as a coach
• Why run outs are so common early season (and how to fix it)

00:00 Intro – Are players training the wrong way?

01:13 Should you trust how you feel before batting?

03:57 Nets vs matches – why it feels different

07:30 “I’ve gone backwards after scoring a 50”

12:16 Coaching after a poor team performance

18:13 Why run outs happen early season

27:20 Outro & listener questions

Got a question for a future episode?

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Why is wicketkeeping often described as a “dark art”… and why is there nowhere to hide when things go wrong?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by Lancashire cricketer Ellie Threlkeld to explore the mental demands of wicketkeeping.

Ellie shares her experiences of keeping and captaining at the highest level — from managing concentration and decision-making to dealing with mistakes and supporting young wicketkeepers. This is a must-listen for players, coaches and parents looking to better understand one of the most unique roles in cricket.

• Why wicketkeeping is often misunderstood
• The mental demands of being involved in every ball
• Managing concentration during “silent periods” in games
• Why wicketkeeping is mentally more draining than it looks
• How to respond to mistakes and avoid things snowballing
• The balance between instinct and technical thinking
• Leadership challenges as a wicketkeeper-captain
• How psychology influences performance and team culture
• Practical advice for coaches working with young keepers
• Simple ways parents can support developing wicketkeepers

00:00 – Chris Scott, Brian Lara and “nowhere to hide”

01:18 – Introducing Ellie Threlkeld

02:05 – The “dark art” of wicketkeeping explained

07:21 – What people don’t see (and don’t appreciate)

08:30 – Managing concentration ball-to-ball

11:10 – Why wicketkeeping is mentally draining

13:47 – The isolation of being a wicketkeeper

22:17 – Dealing with mistakes and resetting

30:48 – Pre-ball routines and staying present

40:12 – Ellie’s psychology journey and leadership

51:28 – How coaches can support wicketkeepers

56:10 – Ellie’s advice for young wicketkeepers

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If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes — and please leave a rating or review to help more players, coaches and parents find the show.

Spin bowling in England is in trouble — so what actually needs to change?

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, we’re joined by former Kent and Nottinghamshire spinner and leading coach Rob Ferley.

We explore why spin bowling is struggling in England, what makes a spinner effective in matches (not just in nets), and how coaching, environments, and captaincy all shape development.

Rob also shares his thinking behind Square One Cricket — a new initiative aiming to rethink how players learn and progress in the game.

• What actually makes a good spinner (beyond technique)
• The psychological challenges spinners face — and why they’re often misunderstood
• Why spinners struggle to transfer performance from nets to matches
• How captains can get more (or less) out of their spinners
• What we’re getting right — and wrong — in coaching spin
• Practical advice for young spinners looking to improve
• Inside Square One Cricket and its vision for the future

00:00 – Spin bowling in England is “in a bit of a pickle"

00:42 – Introducing Rob Ferley

04:24 – What makes a good spinner?

08:14 – Progression, passion, and development environments

18:49 – Psychological challenges of spin & managing pressure

23:58 – Getting hit as a spinner: thoughts, feelings, behaviour

27:38 – Do captains get the best out of spinners?

40:17 – How should we coach and develop young spinners?

49:52 – The art vs science of spin bowling

55:22 – Square One Cricket: concept and vision

🌐 Website: https://www.cricketmind.online

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https://squareoneeducation.co.uk

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The journey through cricket is rarely straightforward.

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock speak to Cheshire-based all-rounder and Loughborough student Rohan Luthra, who is currently finding his way through the game.

Rohan is studying at Loughborough University and has recently had a taste of Cheshire 1st XI cricket, as he looks to establish himself at that level.

From early success and setbacks to playing across different environments — including time spent training in India — this is an honest conversation about what it takes to keep improving in the game.

• What progression in cricket really looks like
• Learning from early success and setbacks
• The experience of stepping into senior cricket
• Adapting across different teams and environments
• Lessons from training and playing in India
• Understanding performance beyond just results
• Managing confidence and expectations
• The realities of developing as a young cricketer

00:00 – Breaking through: pressure & reality

01:01 – Early journey: Loughborough, Cheshire & first-team exposure

03:39 – Early success & chasing a “formula”

06:42 – Setbacks, deselection & proving yourself

17:15 – Ambition, progression & long-term thinking

27:20 – Stepping into Cheshire first team cricket

31:56 – Life as a club pro: pressure, expectations & performance

44:42 – Learning from the top: India Test team experience

53:33 – Training in India: volume, repetition & development

59:54 – Managing performance, mindset & multiple team

01:09:14 – Advice for young players & final reflections

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Former Kent spinner and Level 4 coach Rob Ferley joins us to talk all things spin — from technique and mindset to how to coach and captain spin bowlers.

Why does one bad innings ruin your whole week?

In this episode of the Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock answer listener questions from players, parents and coaches — exploring why mistakes feel so heavy, and how to handle them better.

From the pressure of public stats to the emotional fallout of getting out, this episode tackles some of the most common — and challenging — moments in cricket.

The conversation covers:

1. The pressure of public stats and feeling judged
2. What coaches should (and shouldn’t) say after mistakes
3. Supporting young players through frustration and disappointment
4. Managing conflicting advice from multiple coaches
5. Helping children transition from softball to hardball cricket

A practical, honest discussion to help you think differently about performance, development, and the environments we create around the game.

00:00 – Opening hook

00:20 – Introduction

01:03 – Q1: Feeling judged by public stats (Play Cricket)

09:10 – Q2: How coaches should respond to mistakes

14:23 – Q3: Managing emotions after getting out

20:55 – Q4: Conflicting advice from multiple coaches

30:09 – Q5: Fear of hardball cricket in young players

38:00 – Reflections on fear & transition to hardball

38:44 – Episode wrap-up begins

39:00 – Next episode preview (Rohan Luthra)

🌐 www.cricketmind.online

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📱 Facebook: @cricket.mind.online

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