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, parental influence, preparation and why so many talented young cricketers struggle to reach their full potential.

Tom also breaks down the philosophy behind Cricket Mentoring and its holistic approach to developing players beyond just technique, looking at the technical, tactical, mental, emotional, physical and lifestyle sides of the game.

This conversation is a must-listen for young cricketers, parents, coaches and anyone interested in the mental and emotional side of cricket.

Topics covered:

* Tom's journey from Alice Springs to Middlesex

* Playing professional cricket at Lord's

* Why talent alone is not enough

* The difference between coaching and mentoring

* The mental and emotional side of cricket

* How parents can better support young cricketers

* Why players lose confidence and enjoyment

* Cricket Mentoring's 6 Pillars of Success

* How young cricketers can understand themselves better

Guest: Tom Scollay

Follow Cricket Mentoring:

https://cricketmentoring.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cricketmentoring/

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:17 Growing up in Alice Springs

03:00 Falling in love with cricket

06:23 Studying the game before smartphones

07:43 Playing for Northern Territory

09:29 Facing future Australian stars as a junior

11:52 Steve Smith and the viral net session

13:32 Playing against older cricketers

17:17 Moving to Perth and joining Melville

19:05 The move to England and Middlesex

21:55 Hitting 24 in the first over on trial

23:41 Earning a Middlesex contract

24:17 Playing with Eoin Morgan, Chris Rogers and Andrew Strauss

25:22 Playing with freedom and making a statement

38:08 Self-worth, results and young cricketers

40:16 What parents should say after a game

43:03 The danger of forcing your dream onto your child

46:20 Lord's debut, pressure and imposter syndrome

01:03:51 Technique, tactics and the mental side of batting

01:06:08 Cricket Mentoring's 6 Pillars of Success

01:06:57 Facing world-class T20 players

01:14:38 Advice for young cricketers

01:15:31 Outro

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 $500 and spent years driving him to training, games and carnivals without complaint.

Aryan opens up about representing Australia at U19 level, earning a rookie contract with Victoria, learning from elite players in the Melbourne Stars and Victorian environments, and the pressure of trying to build a professional cricket career at a young age.

We also speak about confidence, faith, gratitude, taking positives from difficult situations, handling fear of failure, breathwork, batting with clarity, bowling spin in the modern game, and the mindset required to keep improving.

This was a very honest and grounded conversation with one of the exciting young all-rounders coming through Australian cricket.

Topics covered:

• Australia U19 journey

• Victoria rookie contract

• Family sacrifice and immigrant story

• His father's role in his cricket journey

• Faith, gratitude and belief

• Handling pressure and fear of failure

• Breathwork and staying present

• Confidence as a young cricketer

• Learning from Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and the Melbourne Stars

• Batting, spin bowling and becoming a genuine all-rounder

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment and subscribe for more long-form conversations on cricket, mindset and performance.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

02:40 Learning from Glenn Maxwell

04:57 Becoming a genuine all-rounder

06:29 U19 World Cup semi-final pressure

08:22 Breathwork, nerves and clarity

09:59 Learning to bat longer

11:50 Red ball vs white ball mindset

12:56 Good risks vs bad risks

13:30 Aryan's early cricket journey

15:00 Becoming a left-arm spinner

18:57 Virat Kohli's influence

21:15 The viral Boxing Day Test poster

23:31 Faith, gratitude and perspective

27:00 Representing Australia U19s

28:04 His father's sacrifices

31:25 Family support and his sisters

33:06 His father coming to Australia with $500

35:33 U17 carnival and pathway cricket

38:47 Method to the madness

39:22 Confidence and fear of failure

43:03 Dressing room culture

44:07 Playing against future Australia U19 teammates

48:56 Australia U19 debut series against India

51:23 Oliver Peake and teammate success

54:26 Getting a Victoria rookie contract

55:12 No handouts, earning his place

56:44 Chris Rogers' advice

58:06 Melbourne Stars experience

01:01:13 Haris Rauf and facing high pace

01:02:26 Batting clarity and staying still

01:08:09 Breathwork, recovery and professionalism

01:09:52 Downtime, music and Ronaldo

01:13:09 Outro

#Cricket #AryanSharma #AustraliaU19 #VictorianCricket #TheCerebralCricketer #CricketPodcast #CricketAustralia #MelbourneStars #CricketMindset

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 means to him, how life changes when cricket becomes your profession, and the hard work still ahead as he looks to push towards a full contract and future BBL opportunities.

We also explore one of the most unique parts of Harjas' journey, his background in Sikh/Punjabi martial arts. Harjas explains how training with sticks and swords from a young age helped develop his wrist and arm strength, and how that physical base carries into his batting.

This episode also dives deep into the mental side of the game. Harjas shares how breathwork helps him manage adrenaline, calm his nerves, stay present, and avoid getting caught up in past failures or future outcomes.

He reflects on the mindset shift that helped him enjoy his cricket more, focus on his Monday to Friday preparation, and produce a breakout season in NSW Premier Cricket.

A fascinating conversation on culture, power hitting, breathwork, pressure, staying present, and the journey from junior cricket to becoming a NSW professional.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:36 NSW rookie contract and becoming a pro

03:55 Punjabi martial arts and life outside cricket

08:30 Faith, adrenaline and demonstrations

10:00 How martial arts connects to batting

11:21 Breathwork and controlling nerves

14:02 Staying present and calm

16:10 Batting instincts, zones and the 314 mindset

19:14 Junior cricket, pressure and enjoying the game

22:23 Preparation over outcomes

23:44 Family, Westfields and his dad's influence

28:53 Facing genuine pace and Australia U19 selection

32:40 England U19 debut and Youth Test hundred

38:12 U19 World Cup memories

41:22 World Cup final against India

44:16 Sydney Sixers and learning from elite players

48:57 Breakout Premier Cricket season and adapting formats

52:19 Switching off between balls

54:35 Matchups, T20 batting and grade cricket lessons

57:12 Best players, hardest bowlers and best advice

01:00:10 Advice for young cricketers

01:00:59 Final words

#HarjasSingh #TheCerebralCricketer #CricketPodcast #NSWCricket #SydneySixers #U19WorldCup #AustralianCricket #PunjabiCricket #CricketMindset #BattingTips #Breathwork #CricketTraining

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 Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

We dive into the mindset behind his explosive 19-ball fifty in New Zealand first-class cricket, why so many cricketers struggle to truly know their own game, and how players can avoid getting lost in technical overload, bad advice and the pressure to please coaches.

Scott also opens up about his unique bowling action, learning from his father, developing self-awareness as a fast bowler, the worst advice he ever received, and the importance of honest conversations in cricket environments.

We also discuss what it was like being around names like MS Dhoni, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori and Shaun Tait, plus the lessons he picked up across the IPL, CPL and other franchise tournaments.

This is a must-watch for young cricketers, fast bowlers, all-rounders, coaches, and anyone interested in the mental side of cricket.

Topics covered:

Scott Kuggeleijn's cricket journey

Growing up with a father who played for New Zealand

His unique catapult-style bowling action

The mindset behind his 19-ball fifty

Why self-awareness matters in cricket

How to handle coaching advice

The danger of overthinking technique

Shaun Tait's advice on bowling fast

Kane Williamson's cricket mind

Inside CSK, Mumbai Indians and RCB

AB de Villiers' humility

Virat Kohli's energy and confidence

Fast bowling tactics and franchise cricket

Subscribe for more deep-dive cricket conversations on mindset, performance, pressure and the inner game.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Growing Up In A Cricket Family

01:45 Scott's Unique Bowling Action

05:23 Training For Fast Bowling

07:12 Becoming A Bowling All Rounder

08:04 The 19 Ball Fifty

10:01 The Mindset Behind The Innings

15:31 Why Overcoaching Can Hurt Players

16:27 Being Your Own Best Coach

19:30 Honest Conversations With Coaches

21:38 Why Some Players Get Stuck

28:19 The Worst Bowling Advice He Received

32:00 Knowing What Type Of Bowler You Are

36:22 Simple Mental Cues That Work

37:36 Understanding Your Role In The Team

40:43 Why Fast Bowlers Need Gears

45:28 The Jump To International Cricket

48:20 Shaun Tait's Advice On Bowling Fast

51:38 Kane Williamson And Daniel Vettori

53:24 Champions League T20 Lessons

55:57 Beating Mumbai Indians

58:20 Inside Chennai Super Kings

01:03:25 Why CSK Back Their Players

01:05:24 CSK's Calm Environment

01:06:45 Bowling To KL Rahul And Chris Gayle

01:09:10 Mumbai Indians And RCB Experiences

01:10:45 AB De Villiers' Humility

01:11:43 Virat Kohli's Energy

01:12:42 Franchise Cricket Around The World

01:15:13 The Cutthroat Reality Of Franchise Cricket

01:16:30 Handling Pressure In Professional Cricket

01:19:46 Life Outside Cricket

01:21:18 Test Cricket And England's Bazball Approach

01:26:21 Nathan Lyon, Australia And Steve Smith

01:28:07 Most Impressive Bowlers He Has Seen

01:29:38 Jesse Ryder And Shane Watson

01:32:49 Dutch Roots And Netherlands Cricket

01:34:48 Final Reflections

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 refinement, self-awareness and preparation helped shape his game. He opens up about preparing for elite bowling attacks, developing new scoring options against both spin and pace, and learning how to stay clear, composed and decisive in high-pressure moments.

The conversation also explores the mental side of batting, including AJ's in-game process, the idea of flow state, and the importance of trusting your method when the stakes are at their highest. He also speaks powerfully about what Italy's rise meant to him personally, the emotion behind that historic World Cup moment, and why representing Italy alongside his brother made it even more special.

This is a fascinating conversation on mindset, adjustment, identity and performance, and a deep insight into one of the most memorable stories of Italy's rise on the world cricket stage.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:43 Childhood, family and choosing cricket

05:50 Cricket in Rome

07:31 Crazy synthetic wickets

12:40 Early coaches and batting journey

17:46 Reflection and skill development

20:03 Building the baseball swing

23:47 The mental jump to international cricket

27:20 Facing pace and spin at World Cup level

34:07 Four years of World Cup preparation

38:32 The Nepal game plan

43:07 Flow state in the 62*

45:24 AJ's batting process explained

48:44 The emotion behind the celebration

53:44 Facing England with belief

56:00 Sydney grade teammates in Italy's side

01:04:35 Learning from big names in club cricket

01:06:23 Italy's World Cup learnings

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 criticism to selection pressure, public narratives, and the mental toll of being constantly assessed.

Daniel shares insights from years of covering Australian cricket, including how player reputations are formed, why certain narratives stick, how young players adjust to the spotlight, and what journalists observe about pressure that fans often miss.

We also dive into Sheffield Shield cricket, Test cricket culture in Australia, and the evolving environment around elite players in the modern game.

If you're interested in the mental side of cricket, selection dynamics, team culture, and the reality of life under the microscope, this is a must-watch.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:27 How Daniel Cherny got into sports journalism

02:02 Daniel's cricketing background

02:50 His journey from The Age to Code Sports

08:04 Victoria, cricket culture, and journalism

12:28 What makes covering cricket different

17:56 Sheffield Shield crowds and long format interest

21:49 Why Test cricket still dominates in Australia

26:11 Is Sheffield Shield still producing Test players?

33:21 The pressure jump to international cricket

40:32 How narratives stick to cricketers

49:46 How players handle being dropped

56:29 Social media and the mental toll on cricketers

01:02:03 Team culture and the modern Australian setup

01:08:14 Daniel's favourite journalism moments

01:09:39 The player unlucky to miss more Test cricket

01:10:24 Wrap up

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 4am gym sessions, highly specific training, and a full year of sacrifice to give himself one more shot at the biggest stage.

He also breaks down the tactical thinking and bowling plans he used at the World Cup against India and Pakistan that helped drive his success.

This is a deep conversation about resilience, process, identity, and what it really takes to keep going in professional cricket.

Topics include:

• Shadley's childhood in Cape Town
• School sport, rugby, and early cricket development
• Losing his contract and rediscovering love for the game
• Self-belief, failure, and the mental side of cricket
• Faith, Belief in God and how it shapes his mindset
• 4am training, sacrifice, and preparation for the World Cup
• How he stayed ready when he was not expected to play
• Lessons from high-level cricket and life

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and USA cricket

02:31 Growing up in Cape Town

06:49 Sport, failure and early lessons

08:48 Coaching and cricket development

13:41 From wicketkeeper to all-rounder

15:21 First-class debut

23:01 Advice, confidence and self-doubt

27:26 Losing his contract changed everything

32:26 Life lessons from cricket

34:41 Self-belief and handling doubt

42:52 Faith, God and letting go

48:01 First World Cup vs second World Cup

50:51 The 4am training grind

52:48 Redefining his role

56:31 Becoming a thinking cricketer

01:08:07 Recovery and body management

01:10:07 Tactical planning for India

01:20:15 Reflecting on USA's World Cup campaign

01:25:26 World Cup conversations and lessons

01:27:25 Beating Bangladesh before the World Cup

01:28:56 Facing South Africa's best

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, learning to trust his game, and how volume of cricket helped accelerate his development.

He also reflects honestly on the pressure of second XI cricket, making his Sheffield Shield debut, getting a first-ball duck, and the self-doubt that followed, before later scoring his maiden Shield hundred for WA.

If you enjoy cricket conversations that go beyond the surface and explore the mindset behind performance, this one is for you.

Topics include: Joel Curtis, Western Australia cricket, Sheffield Shield, batting mindset, self-doubt, mental routines, wicketkeeper-batsman, grade cricket, Second XI cricket, first-class cricket, domestic cricket, cricket psychology, facing fast bowling, batting technique, cricket development.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:26 How Joel got into cricket

01:21 Growing up competitive with his older brother

03:41 Was he always a wicketkeeper-batter? 05:49 Learning without a technical coach

07:39 How backyard cricket shaped his batting

10:13 The impact of Cricket Mentoring

12:01 Batting fundamentals for young players

13:21 Why great batters play late

15:59 Does defense still matter in T20 cricket?

17:31 England, freedom and record-breaking runs

22:24 Why England fast-tracked his development

24:22 Grade cricket form and his WA opportunity

28:29 Advice for handling pressure opportunities

29:37 Joel's Sheffield Shield debut

32:48 First-ball duck, self-doubt and bouncing back

35:00 Reflecting on that dismissal and what he changed

36:54 Are Shield conditions harder for batters now?

39:58 The story behind his maiden Shield hundred

42:34 Preparing to face quality pace attacks

44:46 Batting in flow at Junction Oval

47:33 Learning from Mitch Marsh and WA's stars

50:37 How to train for genuine pace

52:57 Joel's batting routine

56:22 Adapting to different batting roles

59:38 MRF Academy, PM's XI and India experience

01:02:40 What India taught him about playing spin

01:04:18 Chasing 320 against Tasmania

01:07:05 Dressing room message during WA's tense chase

01:08:15 Sports psych, meditation and visualization

01:10:19 Handling self-doubt and mental chatter

01:13:21 Toughest bowler he has faced

01:13:58 Batters who impressed him most

01:14:54 His most satisfying innings

01:15:27 Best piece of advice he's received

01:19:12 Balancing work and cricket before his contract

01:20:47 Wrap up