The Cerebral Cricketer

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, we sit down with Tom Scollay, former professional cricketer for Middlesex and founder of Cricket Mentoring. Tom shares his journey from growing up in Alice Springs to playing professional cricket in England, including his experiences at Middlesex and Lord's. We also explore the deeper side of cricket development, including confidence, pressure, mindset, p...

We sit down with Aryan Sharma, an Australia U19 all-rounder and Victorian rookie, for a powerful conversation about cricket, family, belief and the journey towards professional cricket. Aryan's story is about much more than runs, wickets and selections. Behind his rise through the Australian pathway is a family story built on sacrifice, especially the role of his father, who came to Australia with...

We sit down with Harjas Singh, one of the most exciting young left-handed batters in Australian cricket. Harjas is a 2024 Under-19 World Cup winner, Australia's top scorer in the final against India, the Western Suburbs batter who smashed a record-breaking 314 off 141 balls, and has now earned his first NSW rookie contract. In this conversation, Harjas opens up about what the NSW rookie contract m...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, I'm joined by New Zealand international all-rounder Scott Kuggeleijn for a deep and honest conversation about what it really takes to understand your game. Scott has represented the Black Caps across all three formats, built an outstanding domestic career with Northern Districts, and been part of elite IPL environments with Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Ind...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, Italy international batter AJ Mosca breaks down the journey to Italy's first ever men's T20 World Cup, the mindset behind his match-winning 62 not out against Nepal, and the adjustments needed to succeed at the highest level of the game. AJ reflects on his cricketing journey from the Sydney grade system to the international stage, and shares how years of...

What is it really like to live under the microscope as a professional cricketer? In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, I'm joined by Melbourne-based cricket journalist Daniel Cherny for a fascinating conversation on the hidden psychological side of professional cricket. We explore what high level cricketers have to deal with beyond pure performance, from media scrutiny and social media critic...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, Shadley van Schalkwyk opens up like never before. He reflects on growing up in Cape Town, coming through the South African system, losing his contract, and the mindset shift that changed his career. Shadley speaks honestly about self-belief, failure, faith, God and how his wife's encouragement pushed him to go all in again, including a brutal stretch of 4...

We are joined by Western Australia wicketkeeper-batter Joel Curtis for a deep conversation on the mental and technical side of batting and handling self-doubt. We explore how backyard battles with his older brother shaped his competitiveness, how he developed his game, and the role Cricket Mentoring played in sharpening both his technique and mental approach. Joel opens up about playing in England...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, we are joined by ESPNcricinfo Bangladesh correspondent Mohammad Isam for a deep conversation on the real state of Bangladesh cricket. We discuss why Bangladesh continues to produce talented players but struggles to consistently develop world-class cricketers, the impact of BCB politics, poor infrastructure, weak pathways, under-19 dependence, BKSP, coachi...

Zimbabwe's Brad Evans sits down to unpack the real story behind his rise, from fringe seamer to one of the most effective T20 bowlers in the world. This is not just highlights and memories, it is a deep dive into the plans, spaces and mental frameworks he uses every time he competes for Zimbabwe. From that famous last over against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup, to his five for against India in Har...

World Renowned Bowling Coach Shane Jurgensen joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast to break down the real blueprint behind a world-class pace attack. Shane shares the practical cues he used with elite quicks, how to build speed without overthinking technique, and the hidden "durability rules" that keep fast bowlers on the park. He also breaks down the behind-the-scenes strategy work, the bowling gr...

Afghanistan's newly appointed batting coach Toby Radford joins The Cerebral Cricketer fresh off a win in Dubai, straight after a fast turnaround from the Bangladesh Premier League. In this episode, Toby breaks down what he looks for in elite batting across formats, from T20 game awareness and middle overs planning, to the technical "non negotiables" he believes most world class players share. We g...

Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes top order batsman Tim Ward joins the show to share how he made it into domestic cricket without the "usual" pathway, including missing age group carnivals and using that setback as fuel. We unpack the NSW to Tasmania move, the rookie contract call, how to adapt your game to T20 cricket and what it took to earn his place in the setup. Plus, Tim breaks down his noteboo...

Victoria and Melbourne Stars batter Blake Macdonald joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast for a deep dive into the mental side of cricket, the kind of mindset that actually holds up when the crowd is loud and the stakes feel heavy. Blake breaks down his core idea, "let go of the outcome", why chasing runs can tighten you up, and how focusing on simple cues helps him play freer, clearer cricket. We...

From the U19 World Cup Final in Aussie colours to training with Punjab Kings in the IPL, Param Uppal opens up his secret playbook for success as a modern cricketer. In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, Param talks about growing up in western Sydney after moving from India, the realities of the Australian pathway system, playing a World Cup Final against India, and then walking into an IPL en...

Rising West Indies batter Amir Jangoo joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast to unpack the mental side of that debut hundred against Bangladesh, the doubts that came before it, and the faith that keeps him grounded when the game humbles him. We go deep on how Amir thinks about failure, why he believes you must accept that you will fail as a professional, and how that frees him up to trust his prepar...

NSW future star William Salzmann joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack the mind behind his batting. From coming through the NSW pathway and U19 World Cup, to opening the batting for the Blues and scoring big runs, Salzmann takes us inside his batting philosophy, how he builds his game around strong defence, and what his mental routines actually look like in the middle. We dig into how he rewired...

Queensland Bulls quick Callum Vidler joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack his need for speed, what it feels like to bowl 140kph plus, and why he is always hunting poles rather than bowling safe. From U19 World Cup glory with Australia to a breakout Sheffield Shield final for Queensland, Callum opens up about the mindset behind fast bowling, learning to compete hard without losing control, and ho...

Top Order Premier Cricket Sensation Aryan Jain has a unique journey that runs from London School of Economics to state cricket and a breakout season in Premier cricket.  In this episode he explains the simple process that lets him score runs even when he feels out of touch, how he separates technical, mental, and tactical work, and the exact routine he uses between balls. We cover his first class...

Netherland's Opener Michael Levitt opens up on the simple blueprint behind a T20 hundred, powerplay intent, and mental clarity. We cover how he backs himself under pressure, reads bowlers, sets clear plans, and turns tempo into boundaries. He breaks down the Namibia 135, the communication with partners, and the drills that sharpen bat speed and contact quality. You will hear practical routines you...

Antum Naqvi joins The Cerebral Cricketer to unpack his historic 300 not out in Zimbabwe domestic cricket, the decision making that sustained the innings, and the repeatable routines behind big scores.  We cover debut 140*, captaincy with Mid West Rhinos, white ball gears, and how a commercial pilot license shaped his preparation and discipline. What you will learn: • Phase plan for a triple centur...

From the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2005 to scoring 36 first-class centuries, Mark Cosgrove has lived the highs and challenges of professional cricket. Known for his fearless batting and natural stroke play, Cosgrove represented South Australia, Tasmania, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, and even wore the green and gold for Australia in 2006, scoring 74 on ODI debut against Bangladesh. In th...

Fergus O'Neill joins The Cerebral Cricketer to talk self belief, optimism, and why more love, less ego keeps him grounded. We dig into his fast bowling process, judging by execution not outcomes, and the shoe cue that keeps him present, TG, today's game. He breaks down the hat trick that kick started belief, lessons from Scott Boland and Peter Siddle, and how he plans dismissals with analysts. We...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer, we sit down with Kyle Klein, Netherlands' emerging opening pacer, to unpack the mindset, preparation, and tactical thought behind his recent success with the new ball in international cricket. From mastering his run-up through eyes-closed drills to learning how to channel nerves into focus, Kyle gives us a rare look into the process that underpins his per...

In this episode of The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast , we sit down with Sam Heazlett, a talented left-handed batsman who has represented Queensland in Sheffield Shield and One Day Cup cricket, starred for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League (BBL), and proudly earned an Australian ODI cap in 2017. Sam opens up about his journey through the ranks of Australian cricket, from scoring a century on Sh...