Fielding is often described as cricket’s “third skill”, but at the highest level it can be the difference between winning and losing.

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood is joined by Paul Tweddle, Assistant Coach and Fielding Coach at Somerset County Cricket Club.

Paul has worked across professional and international cricket, including fielding roles with England Lions, England Men’s tours, and most recently as fielding consultant with Scotland at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Together, Nathan and Paul explore what separates elite fielding teams from average ones — from the psychology of dropped catches to the technical fundamentals and training methods used in professional cricket.

They discuss why fielding mistakes can have such a psychological impact on players, the habits that elite fielders develop, and how the culture around fielding has evolved in the modern game.

The conversation also explores how professional teams structure fielding practice, what club cricketers can learn from elite environments, and whether anyone can develop the habits required to become a strong fielder.

00:00 A dropped catch and the psychology of fielding

01:49 Introducing Paul Tweddle

05:19 Why fielding mistakes affect confidence

08:49 Fundamentals vs mindset in fielding

12:46 What elite fielders do differently

17:56 Communication and energy in the field

23:57 Fielding culture in professional teams

31:31 How professional teams train fielding

40:46 Can anyone become a good fielder?

53:50 Fielding and selection in the modern game

58:47 The future of fielding

If you’re a young cricketer preparing for the upcoming season, we’re running an online workshop designed to help players prepare properly for the year ahead.

Making Pre-Season Count is a one-hour session covering:

• How to structure your pre-season training

• How to prepare mentally for the season ahead

• How to build confidence before your first match

🎟 Places cost £25

Book your place here:

www.cricketmind.online/events

Next week Briony Brock returns to the podcast and we’ll be answering listener questions.

If there’s something you’d like us to discuss on the show, you can send your questions via:

Website: www.cricketmind.online

Email: nathan@cricketmind.online

Instagram: @cricket.mind.online

Facebook: @cricket.mind.online

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In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, Nathan Wood and Briony Brock are joined by former England international cricketer and coach Laura MacLeod.

Laura represented England for over a decade and was part of the 2005 Ashes-winning squad. Since retiring she has held senior leadership roles in the women’s game, including Head of Women’s Cricket at Warwickshire.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore:

1. Why girls often drop out of sport in their teenage years
2. The challenges of transitioning from softball to hardball cricket
3. How clubs can genuinely prioritise girls’ cricket
4. The realities of coaching in the professional women’s game
5. What Laura’s research revealed about female coaching pathways

This episode is essential listening for players, parents, coaches and anyone interested in the future of women’s cricket.

00:00 – Why girls drop out of sport

01:17 – Introducing Laura MacLeod

02:23 – Laura’s England debut in 1997

06:48 – From pace bowler to opening batter

14:13 – Growth and professionalisation of women’s cricket

20:45 – Balancing cricket careers with education and life after sport

26:55 – Helping girls transition from softball to hardball

31:04 – Keeping cricket fun in performance environments

34:06 – Softball vs hardball pathways in club cricket

39:05 – Challenges women face in cricket that aren’t often discussed

47:32 – What great clubs do differently for girls’ cricket

55:05 – Laura’s research on female coaches in professional sport

01:07:14 – Advice for women aspiring to coach

01:10:34 – Identity and life beyond elite cricket

01:16:30 – The future of women’s cricket

01:21:34 – Online workshop: Making Cricket Pre-Season Count

Nathan, Briony and Ben Silver are hosting a live online workshop for ambitious cricketers aged 13–18 preparing for the upcoming season.

In this session players will learn:

• How to structure nets with purpose

• How practice transfers into match performance

• How to approach pre-season with clarity rather than guesswork

• Practical actions to improve their training immediately

The session also includes a live Q&A where players can ask their own questions.

👉 Book your place here:

www.cricketmind.online/events

In this episode of The Cricket Mind Podcast, we’re joined by performance psychologist and former Head of Coach Development at the ECB, John Neal.

We explore the difference between personality and character — and why that distinction matters so much in cricket.

From young players navigating selection, to parents shaping development, to captains and coaches leading under pressure — this is a conversation about values, behaviour and sustainable performance.

We also unpack John’s powerful phrase: “ego kills eco” — and what that means for teams, organisations and the long-term health of the game.

If you care about developing better cricketers and better leaders, this one’s for you.

00:03 – Pulp Fiction

01:06 – Introducing John Neal

01:45 – Formal Guest Welcome

03:20 – Personality vs Character Defined

07:52 – Understanding Your Own Character

13:29 – For Young Players: How Do You Know?

19:51 – Do We Overvalue Personality?

24:14 – Parents & Character Development

28:19 – When a Child Gets Dropped

33:19 – Character in Coaches Under Pressure

38:22 – “Ego Kills Eco” Explained

46:35 – Do Organisations Really Have Values?

56:46 – Quick Fire: Character Defined

58:35 – The Uncomfortable Truth About Modern Sport

59:50 – Closing Reflections

1:00:14 – Independent Professional Sports Coach Association

1:02:14 – Episode Close & Next Week Preview

If this episode sparked a thought or question, we’d love to hear from you:

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