The Cerebral Cricketer

We are joined by Shannon Young, founder of YoungGun Cricket and CEO of Cricket Performance Lab.
Shannon is a former Richmond Cricket Club Head Coach in Victorian Premier Cricket and has worked across private coaching, Premier Cricket and high-performance pathway environments. 
He has helped develop home-grown first-class cricketers and brings a unique perspective on what it actually takes to progress from club cricket to higher levels of the game.
In this conversation, we explore the psychology behind player development, understanding the person behind the cricketer, identifying behavioural patterns, building trust as a coach, and why modern coaching has to go beyond batting technique alone.
We also discuss Cricket Performance Lab, cricket technology, bat fitting, BPI, game education, young talent, Premier Cricket, and what separates talented players from players who are genuinely ready for the next level.
This episode is for cricketers, coaches, parents and serious cricket followers who want to better understand how modern players are developed, both technically and mentally.
#CricketPodcast #ShannonYoung #TheCerebralCricketer #CricketCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #PremierCricket #CricketPerformanceLab 
Timestamps
00:00 Intro to Shannon Young
00:57 Shannon's coaching journey
02:00 Players Shannon has worked with
03:05 Cricket Performance Lab and elite players
04:20 Jason Gillespie, Richmond and Glenn Maxwell context
06:00 Premier Cricket's role in developing talent
08:15 Building Richmond's academy model
10:00 Talent, belief and hard coaching
12:30 Standards, fielding and the 1% mindset
15:00 Pressure, trust and giving players ownership
18:10 Identifying and stretching young talent
20:10 Backing youth over established club players
22:00 Talent, environment and decision-making
27:15 The one club approach at Richmond
32:00 Traditional coaching vs modern cricket
33:25 Shannon's traffic light system
35:00 Jake Fraser-McGurk, risk and match-winning talent
39:20 Technique, foundations and power hitting
45:00 Shannon's personal story and coaching philosophy
50:00 Coaching the person behind the player
54:00 Mental performance, self-awareness and pressure
56:10 Neurodiversity, life context and performance
1:00:00 Understanding player responses and the Mitch Perry story
1:06:00 Coaching philosophy beyond technique
1:10:00 Learning from elite players and asking why
1:11:20 Cricket Performance Lab explained
1:14:00 Bat fitting, BPI and the 1% edge
1:17:20 Babar Azam and CPL insights
1:21:20 Final advice for young cricketers
1:22:20 Jake Fraser-McGurk, Glenn Phillips and challenging the game
1:24:10 Outro

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