293 How Cricket Coaches Build Mental Toughness: High Challenge, High Support with Stuart Barnes

Demystifying Mental Toughness

In this episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, I’m joined by Stuart Barnes, Bowling Coach at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. With over 27 years of coaching experience, Stuart shares fascinating insights into the demands of elite cricket, the brutal nature of today’s schedules, and the importance of balancing challenge with support.

We dive into how coaches can help players thrive under pressure, the role of self-awareness and process, and why some athletes fear success. Stuart also discusses the fine line between surviving and thriving in professional sport—and what coaches and athletes alike can do to stay grounded, resilient, and ready to perform.

>> If you’re a cricket coach, player, or parent, you’ll take away practical ideas for building mental toughness, staying adaptable, and managing the pressures of high-performance sport.

For more on this topic, check out these resources:

• Sports Psychology for Cricket Players
• Podcast Ep 115 - Jeremy Snape: Mental Strength to Succeed: Learning Lessons from International Cricket

· Blog Mental Preparation for Bowlers in Cricket

>> Key Takeaways

• The brutal reality of elite schedules – how constant travel and games affect both players and coaches.
• High challenge, high support coaching – why asking deeper questions and showing empathy helps athletes grow.
• Process over outcome – why elite performers focus on their routines, not just results.
• Self-awareness as a competitive edge – how slowing things down and resetting builds resilience.
• Fear of success – why some players avoid growth to escape heightened expectations.
• The power of anchors – small rituals that help athletes enter their performance state under pressure.
• Lessons from failure – why comfort is the enemy of growth, and failure can be the gateway to long-term success.

Connect with Stuart Barnes

· LinkedIn

· Website

Connect with David Charlton

· Sign Up To The Mental Edge

· Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

· LinkedIn