World Renowned Bowling Coach Shane Jurgensen joins The Cerebral Cricketer Podcast to break down the real blueprint behind a world-class pace attack.

Shane shares the practical cues he used with elite quicks, how to build speed without overthinking technique, and the hidden "durability rules" that keep fast bowlers on the park.

He also breaks down the behind-the-scenes strategy work, the bowling group meetings, planning fields to "bowl to your strengths", and using decoy setups when bowling to elite batters like Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.

Shane also unpacks the moments that defined that era, including the World Cup final heartbreak (the "15 for 4" moment that felt like the cup was finally theirs), and what tournament cricket teaches you about momentum, luck, and composure.

We discuss:

- The core idea Shane drills into bowlers: "something creates something", how run-up rhythm shapes action, and action shapes power and control

- A simple external-focus hack to unlock extra pace, including the keeper-glove target and what it did for Kyle Jamieson's speed

- The mindset cue Shane gives his bowlers: "stay calm, play savage", and why every ball is a fresh event

- Why many fast bowlers break down, and the "30% rule" Shane used for Test prep (plus how he monitored workloads across NZ)

- The strength standards behind elite pace, including the squat numbers NZ quicks were hitting, and the forces going through the body at landing

- Prehab habits Shane rates (therabands, medicine ball work) and why they matter for both body and mind

Timestamps

00:00:00 Intro, building a world-class pace attack

00:04:22 Early influences, why wickets matter more than just economy

00:07:29 Coaching simplification, learning from Merv Hughes

00:13:28 Keeper-glove targeting, the drill that helped Kyle Jamieson find extra pace

00:25:50 Playing journey, emotional control, "stay calm, play savage"

00:31:31 Youth Test story, "7 for 4" and what it taught him

00:33:23 Pura Cup final, 11 wickets, long spells, what those days demanded

00:36:09 Workload and injuries, the "30% rule" for Test intensity

00:50:25 Niggles vs real injury, recovery and warning signs

00:52:18 NZ bowling coach (2008–2010), Bond, Martin, Vettori, video and run-up timing

00:56:23 The Vettori camp, run-up mechanics and timing (heel strike vs toes)

01:04:02 Bangladesh stint, adapting bowling plans to conditions and people

01:21:04 Building analysis for the 2019 World Cup, leadership under Kane Williamson

01:22:48 "Decoy fields" and strategy vs Virat Kohli

01:27:15 Semi-final atmosphere in Manchester, bowling partnerships and roles

01:29:15 World Cup final prep at Lord's, plans vs Roy and Bairstow

01:35:48 The "15 for 4" moment, what coaches feel in that chaos

01:42:59 World Test Championship final, nerves and pressure inside the camp

01:44:36 Facing a 16-year-old Steve Smith, plus Warner and Khawaja memories

01:50:05 "Heavy ball" explained, why some bowlers feel uniquely dangerous

01:52:19 The bowler who impressed him most, Matt Henry, training in high-intensity blocks

01:53:13 Why Tom Blundell deserved more white-ball chances

01:54:24 Wrap up, patience, process, and winning over time

Afghanistan's newly appointed batting coach Toby Radford joins The Cerebral Cricketer fresh off a win in Dubai, straight after a fast turnaround from the Bangladesh Premier League.

In this episode, Toby breaks down what he looks for in elite batting across formats, from T20 game awareness and middle overs planning, to the technical "non negotiables" he believes most world class players share.

We go deep on alignment, balance, triggers, playing late, soft hands, and the small details that can be the difference between being slightly out of form and back in rhythm.

We also get practical on how those ideas translate in the nets and in match scenarios, Toby talks through the "option + execution" test he uses for every shot, and why T20 scoring can still come from proper cricket shots and low risk areas rather than slogging.

What you'll learn

• How franchise coaching differs from international and county setups, what actually gets coached when players are in and out quickly

• T20 batting on slow turners vs true wickets, how to maximise the new ball and survive the middle overs

• "Option + execution", Toby's simple framework for every shot selection decision

• The alignment blueprint, head over feet, hands close, and why so many dismissals start with posture and early movement

• Triggers that work, triggers that ruin your setup, and how timing your movement changes everything

• Playing late drills, including a simple machine setup that forces better timing and control

Toby Radford is a former first class cricketer for Middlesex and Sussex, who later became Head Coach at Middlesex and Head Coach at Glamorgan.

He has worked internationally as West Indies batting coach, then held senior development roles as Head of High Performance at the Bangladesh Cricket Board and Batting Coach at the Pakistan Cricket Board High Performance Centre.

He has been the Head Coach of Dhaka Capitals and has been appointed Afghanistan's batting coach.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
0:04 Toby's Afghanistan appointment
0:59 BPL to Dubai turnaround, win vs West Indies
1:34 Franchise cricket pace, what gets coached early
11:13 Option + execution, shot selection framework
15:14 Alignment, the straight line concept
17:19 Balance, head over feet, 60/40 weight cue
18:19 Stance width, white ball vs red ball setups
19:55 Foot movement, head goes first
21:18 Playing late drill, bowling machine setup
23:08 Unorthodox players, still the same fundamentals
27:11 Saif Hassan case study, balance at ball release
33:39 Trigger movement, timing, keep it minimal
38:04 Backlift and toe position, slower vs bouncier pitches
39:59 Coaching the short ball, what good looks like
41:56 Soft hands vs hard hands, shifting gears
45:33 Underrated batters to watch
48:57 Wrap up

Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes top order batsman Tim Ward joins the show to share how he made it into domestic cricket without the "usual" pathway, including missing age group carnivals and using that setback as fuel.

We unpack the NSW to Tasmania move, the rookie contract call, how to adapt your game to T20 cricket and what it took to earn his place in the setup.

Plus, Tim breaks down his notebook method for building innings (first 30 balls, then layers), and a BBL story where "be brave" turned into laps, ramps, and momentum.

This episode explores unseen side of making it, what it feels like when the pathway doesn't pick you, how Tim stayed patient, kept improving, and turned the NSW to Tassie move into a real opportunity.

In this ep:

• Pathway setbacks, and why there are multiple roads

• The decision to leave NSW, and back himself in Tassie

• Simple batting checkpoints, and "bat like George Worker"

• Playing brave in T20, lap and ramp under pressure

Timestamp

00:00 Intro, Tasmania opener Tim Ward
00:00:25 Hurricanes finals vibe, team culture and confidence
00:05:43 White ball prep, being brave, ramps and unconventional shots
00:13:24 Decision making under pressure, using your partner at the crease
00:14:37 Growing up with cricket, early influences
00:23:08 Grade cricket grind, climbing through the levels
00:26:07 203 not out, missing the Under 19 carnival, proving a point
00:31:44 Goal setting, handling low scores, staying honest with yourself
00:39:47 First 30 balls method, "bat like George Worker" mindset
00:44:44 UK stint, adapting to different conditions
00:45:56 Journaling and match prep, building routines
00:54:09 NSW to Tasmania move, rookie contract, breaking into the setup
01:16:59 White ball flexibility, expanding and contracting your game
01:24:20 BBL chase story, dropped Warner, "be brave" and the lap shot
01:29:55 Quickfire wrap up, toughest bowlers, closing thoughts