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

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

📧 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online

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

🌐 Website: www.cricketmind.online

📧 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online

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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

📩 Email: nathan@cricketmind.online

📱 Instagram: cricket.mind.online

https://squareoneeducation.co.uk

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.