Ex England, Yorkshire and Notts bowler Ryan Sidebottom joined us for the final Pre Season Series session. 

Topics discussed included:

Stepping up to playing for England
Responding to difficulties in cricket
Being open about mental ill health

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Gloucestershire & England keeper James Bracey was the fifth guest for the Pre Season Series earlier this year. We're glad to share it here now after a delay.

Topics discussed included:

Adapting to new environments
Supporting team mates
Work/life balance

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Much delayed but here is the fourth of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions with Glamorgan batter Sam Northeast.

Topics discussed included:

Making runs for a living
The role of a team mate
Life away from the game

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Middlesex bowler Ethan and former Lancashire & Leicestershire batter discuss opening the innings, dealing with setbacks and the identity of a professional cricketer.

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Warwickshire's Eve Jones was the guest for the second of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.

Topics discussed included:

- Routines for batting
- The challenges of The Hundred
- Switching off from the game

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Kent keeper/batter Ollie joined us for the first of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.

We discussed:

Managing the demands of professional cricket
Preparation as a keeper/batter
Staying mentally healthy

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Derbyshire pace bowler Dustin opened up on the realities of dealing with injuries. He spoke about the impact at the time, through rehab to the longer term mental challenges.

An important insight to a topic that needs more discussion.

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Jon Northcroft is an Opening Up Cricket trustee and football writer. In this episode he talks us the art of ghost writing, something he has done most recently for Peter Schmeichel, including:

• What it actually is and the process involved
• Staying true to what the person is saying
• Listening skills
• The parallels with counselling and therapy
• Lessons learned from hearing the inner thoughts of someone else

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Primary school teacher Peter has a mission to increase physical activity in young people to the benefit of their mind and body.

We discussed the impact of covid, barriers to promoting activity, teacher wellbeing and his initiative Prime Fitness & Education.

You can find out more here

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Middlesex bowler Ethan chatted with Mark about how he has managed performance anxiety during his career so far.

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