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:

📧 nathan@cricketmind.online

🌐 www.cricketmind.online

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Why do some cricketers look brilliant in the nets — but struggle to perform in matches?

In this solo episode, Nathan Wood explores one of the most common frustrations in the game: the gap between training performance and match performance.

You’ll learn:

1. Why nets and matches demand different skills
2. Why “more nets” isn’t always the solution
3. How to train decision-making under pressure
4. The difference between fragile and resilient confidence
5. How environment shapes sporting resilience

Whether you’re a teenage cricketer, a parent navigating confidence dips, or a coach wanting training to transfer into real performance — this episode is for you.

If you’d like your question answered on the podcast:

🌐 www.cricketmind.online

📧 nathan@cricketmind.online

📘 Facebook: @cricket.mind.online

📸 Instagram: @cricket.mind.online

We read every message — and these episodes are shaped by what you’re actually experiencing.