The Dark Art of Wicketkeeping

The Truth About Talent Pathways & Trials

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 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms. 🏏 Learn more about Cricket Mind Online: www.cricketmind.online 📩 Get in touch: info@cricketmind.online 📱 Follow Cricket Mind Online: * Instagram: @cricket.mind.online * YouTube: @cricket.mind.podcast • • Facebook: cricket.mind.online

You’re Not Unlucky | A Coach & Player Perspective

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. IN THIS EPISODE: * 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 TIMESTAMPS: 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 🌐 Website: Cricket Mind Online [https://www.cricketmind.online/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 📩 GET IN TOUCH: Email: info@cricketmind.online 📱 FOLLOW CRICKET MIND ONLINE: * Instagram: @cricket.mind.online * YouTube: @cricket.mind.online * TikTok: @cricket.mind.online If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another player, parent or coach involved in the game.

More Nets Won’t Fix Your Match Performance

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. IN THIS EPISODE: * 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) ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 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 📩 GET IN TOUCH Got a question for a future episode? Send it in via: 📸 Instagram: @cricket.mind.online 📘 Facebook: @cricket.mind.online 🌐 Website: https://www.cricketmind.online [https://www.cricketmind.online] 📧 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online [nathan@cricketmind.online]

The Dark Art of Wicketkeeping

Why is wicketkeeping often described as a “dark art”… and why is there nowhere to hide when things go wrong? 🎙️ EPISODE SUMMARY 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. IN THIS EPISODE: * 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 ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 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 🔗 GET IN TOUCH 🌐 Website: www.cricketmind.online 📧 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online 📱 Instagram: cricket.mind.online 📘 Facebook: cricket.mind.online 🎧 ENJOYING THE PODCAST? 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

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. IN THIS EPISODE: * 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 TIMESTAMPS 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 🔗 GET IN TOUCH / LINKS 🌐 Website: https://www.cricketmind.online 📩 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online 📱 Instagram: cricket.mind.online SQUARE ONE CRICKET: https://squareoneeducation.co.uk 🎧 ENJOYED THE EPISODE? If you found this helpful, make sure you subscribe to The Cricket Mind Podcast and leave a rating or review — it really helps us grow and reach more players, parents, and coaches.