Cricket gives us a vital chance to take time away from our screens and properly connect with others. Mark gives his view on this increasingly important issue in this episode.

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Jonathan Haidt was mentioned in this episode. You can read about his work on youth phone use here and in a similar vein there is a perspective from the US surgeon general here 

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The second episode on this theme has Opening Up Cricket trustee & Sunday Times Football Correspondent Jon Northcroft sharing from another sport. We hear a range from Fergie to Guardiola on how wellbeing and team bonds are forged at the top level of football.

It's fascinating to think about what we can learn from these examples.

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Ethan spoke with friend and current team mate down under Miles Hammond, of Gloucestershire CCC. Topics included...

- Life as an overseas player
- Finding the balance between cricket and the rest of life
- How talking therapy made the difference

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Identity,  particularly how much we define ourselves by our job, is a topic of almost endless discussion. Sussex keeper/batter Tom Alsop gave his insight to Mark during this episode.

The focus was on how over the course of his career, he has come to see himself as more than just a cricketer.

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Mark reflects on a personal experience of going beyond what was healthy to commit to.

The books mentioned in this episode were:

Mike Yardy- The Hard Yards

Brene Brown- Daring Greatly

Tim Cantopher- Depressive Illness: The Curse Of The Strong 

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Josh Sivier, known across social media as 'The WK Coach' shared with Mark his passion for wicket keeping, as a player and coach.

Topics include:

Technical fundamentals
Resilience
The love of the game

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Sean chatted with Mark about the reality of playing Grade, or as it is now known, Premier Cricket in Australia.

Having played at first class and international level, it was interesting to hear his perspective on the club game.

Topic discussed include:

* Creating the ideal environment
* The intensity compared to the professional game
* Adapting from other levels of cricket

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Tara Norris of Sussex, Southern Vipers, Southern Brave and the USA joined Mark to discuss:

Her transition into professional cricket

Routine and structure

Self motivation 

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What is your coaching philosophy?

Mark shares how Carl Rogers, more familiar in the counselling world, has helped shape his.

The blog post mentioned in the episode can be found here 

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Ex England, Yorkshire and Notts bowler Ryan Sidebottom joined us for the final Pre Season Series session. 

Topics discussed included:

Stepping up to playing for England
Responding to difficulties in cricket
Being open about mental ill health

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Gloucestershire & England keeper James Bracey was the fifth guest for the Pre Season Series earlier this year. We're glad to share it here now after a delay.

Topics discussed included:

Adapting to new environments
Supporting team mates
Work/life balance

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Much delayed but here is the fourth of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions with Glamorgan batter Sam Northeast.

Topics discussed included:

Making runs for a living
The role of a team mate
Life away from the game

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This pre season, we have a focus on how team environments can best support their members. To start with, Ethan Bamber draws on his experiences in the professional games, as we aim to find the ways we can all look out for those around us.

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Middlesex bowler Ethan and former Lancashire & Leicestershire batter discuss opening the innings, dealing with setbacks and the identity of a professional cricketer.

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Warwickshire's Eve Jones was the guest for the second of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.

Topics discussed included:

- Routines for batting
- The challenges of The Hundred
- Switching off from the game

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Kent keeper/batter Ollie joined us for the first of the 2022 Pre Season Series sessions.

We discussed:

Managing the demands of professional cricket
Preparation as a keeper/batter
Staying mentally healthy

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Derbyshire pace bowler Dustin opened up on the realities of dealing with injuries. He spoke about the impact at the time, through rehab to the longer term mental challenges.

An important insight to a topic that needs more discussion.

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Jon Northcroft is an Opening Up Cricket trustee and football writer. In this episode he talks us the art of ghost writing, something he has done most recently for Peter Schmeichel, including:

• What it actually is and the process involved
• Staying true to what the person is saying
• Listening skills
• The parallels with counselling and therapy
• Lessons learned from hearing the inner thoughts of someone else

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Primary school teacher Peter has a mission to increase physical activity in young people to the benefit of their mind and body.

We discussed the impact of covid, barriers to promoting activity, teacher wellbeing and his initiative Prime Fitness & Education.

You can find out more here

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Middlesex bowler Ethan chatted with Mark about how he has managed performance anxiety during his career so far.

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The term 'coaching' is subject to lots of different interpretations, especially in the world outside of sport.

Mark spoke with Jim Hughes about what he sees it as in his work coaching high performers. It was thought provoking to consider how we consider the role of someone who is there to help...


Find out more about Untamed here 

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Mark gives his perspective on what he has learned from the experience of depressive illness.

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Paul Smith played for Warwickshire from 1982 and 1996, featuring as a key member of the famous treble winning side of 1994. Here he spoke about the influence of Bob Woolmer, how mental health was looked after in his career as well as the challenges post retirement. 

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Ethan and Tom shared their reflections on how the close season changes how they see themselves. 

This was recorded just before their return to pre season training at Middlesex and Sussex.

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Northern Diamonds bowler Phoebe joined us for the eight Pre Season Series session back in March.

We discussed her unusual journey to being a professional athlete via themes of embracing challenges, perseverance and finding your own way.

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Hampshire's Tom Alsop chatted with Mark about the reasons behind him joining our team to host sessions. The insight to the personal and professional contexts of mental health and wellbeing are well worth a listen...

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West Indies Director of Cricket Jimmy joined us in March for the seventh Pre Season Series session.

The main themes discussed were managing stress, dealing with burnout and fatigue and adapting to different conditions.

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Abi joined Mark to share his thoughts on the importance of being truly listened to. He reflects on his personal experience of being supported following the loss of his Mum as well as communication in cricket, drawing on his time as a professional player with Sussex.

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Northamptonshire bowling coach Chris  joined us live in February for the sixth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The theme we explored was meditation in cricket. 

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Kent batter Daniel  joined us live in February for the fifth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The themes discussed were:

Mental strategies to bat long
Overcoming adversity
Maintaining good mental health

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Southern Vipers bowler Tara  joined us live in January for the fourth of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The themes discussed were:

Sport/life balance
Mindful cricket
Looking out for team mates.

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Surrey all-rounder Rikki  joined us live in January for the third of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The themes discussed were:

Fielding focus
Motivation to keep improving
Overcoming setbacks

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Derbyshire all-rounder Luis joined us live in January for the second of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The themes discussed were:

Mindset as an all rounder
Managing anxiety
Positive team environments

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Derbyshire all-rounder Fynn joined us live in January for the first of our 'Pre Season Series' sessions so here it is for you to catch up on.

The themes discussed were:

Dealing with setbacks
Focus in games
Supporting team mates

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Henry returns with his second guest, Matty Jackson of Liverpool CC, for a chat focused on captaincy in the club game.

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Kate shared her experiences of how the measures in place to facilitate international cricket during the pandemic have impacted her wellbeing.

She provides an honest, balanced account of the realities of such an unusual situation. Well worth a listen!

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Rich Hudson, managing director of Buckinghamshire Cricket and author of 'Perform Beyond Pressure' discussed some key themes from his book with Mark.

Key topics include:

How pressure as a concept is inhibiting
Connecting with why we play the game
The natural ebb and flow of how we feel
Moving beyond the labels we give ourselves

You can buy the book here  and find Rich on twitter @rdhudson00 

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The importance of talking to maintaining good mental health is well established. What about how we listen to enable those conversations? Mark has a think about this in the final episode of the year.

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Former Jamaica spinner Ryan Cunningham chatted with Mark about mindfulness, particularly using coffee to refine his practice. Alongside this we covered the mental approaches to cricket in the West Indies, dealing with setbacks as a bowler and adapting to life playing in English leagues.

Check out his coffee here 

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Former Scotland batsman turned podcast host Qasim Sheikh was our guest as we talked about:

* His experiences in international cricket
* The differences between playing in the UK and Pakistan
* Dealing with mental ill health
* The power of talking for wellbeing

Check out his show- Sheikys Sports Journeys- on YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts.

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We look at the power of vulnerability and how this term can be looked at differently to benefit sport and life.

Links from the episode:

How vulnerability became sport's winning weapon
Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability
Headfirst- Wellbeing & Rugby

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Dr Hassan Mahmood, a consultant psychiatrist and part of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Sports and Exercise Special Interest Group, has contributed a cricket chapter to the recently published 'Case Studies In Sports Psychiatry'.

We chatted about the links between cricket and mental health, looking towards positive steps that can be made to look after international players wellbeing.

You can purchase the book here

Here's some other resources to explore...

Cricketers under increasing mental health pressure- White Ferns veteran Suzie Bates
How hard has depression hit cricket?

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Mindfulness has far reaching benefits so here Mark talks a little about the links to cricket.

Further resources to explore....

E-BOOK: Mindful Cricket by Graham Winter.

ARTICLE: An example of yoga and mindfulness in practice with Australian cricketers

ARTICLE: How meditation improves mental focus

VIDEO: All it takes is ten mindful minutes

VIDEO: Justin Langer on meditation and mental toughness

WEBSITES: Headspace & Smiling Mind

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Mark talks about the ways in which we can support our team mates.

If you do nothing else following this episode then make your action to access the free, 20 minute Zero Suicide Alliance Training

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Andy's Man Club faciliator Dan Rowe shared his experience of this life changing charity and his own mental health journey.

We discussed postnatal depression in fathers, the road to recovering from this as well as his own ways to wellbeing.

Find out more about about Andy's Man Club here and listen to Dan's podcast here 

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Thanks to Henry Eccles of Southport & Birkdale CC for this chat with his club's former overseas player Will Affleck, reflecting on the realities and pressures that can feature in the weekend game.

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Opening Up Cricket founding member & Sunday Times football correspondent Jon Northcroft chatted with Mark on the themes of football and covid.

Key topics include:

* Football and sports role in society
* How clubs and players are staying connected
* The approaches to health and wellbeing in regular times and now
* Extending the spirit of 'be kind' to professional athletes

Jon is on twitter @jnorthcroft

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Therapist Anthony Morris talked us through his methods of helping people move from difficulties to lead happier lives.

You can access his online course @ www.shineagentsofchange.com and information about his book can be found @ www.newunderstandings.com

Otherwise he can be contacted via Anthony@marketharmony.com

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Chris was just 16 when he made his first class debut for Derbyshire. In this episode we talk about the experience of being thrust into the professional game, reflecting on what he picked up from such a steep learning curve.

You can find out more about his charity Milestone here

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Founder of Complete Cricket Dave Smith shared with us his approaches to coaching and the model that his company have used so successfully  across a number of years.

Find out more about what they offer both in person and online (with masterclasses from Allan Donald, Ian Bell and Dom Sibley among the coming attractions) here 

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