Volume 12 Issues 7 July, 2022
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What do Marcus Trescothick, Glenn Maxwell, Will Pucovski, Jonathan Trott, Sarah Taylor, Suzie Bates, Praveen Kumar, Virat Kohli and the great Sachin Tendulkar have in common? England’s opener Marcus Trescothick returned to his country in the middle of the India tour in February 2006, citing personal reasons, which were later found to be issues related to mental health (1). I was 14 at that time, not knowing what mental health was, and was wondering why such a prolific, in form player would risk his place in the national team for such an issue. Although that same year turned out to be his last in international cricket, I realized the importance of that decision during my years of medical training. During their spectacular cricketing careers, the above-mentioned names have undergone similar mental health issues.
“I was pretty cooked when I decided to take time off” – Glenn Maxwell (2)
“I was in a real dark place and having some difficult thoughts” – Ben Stokes
“I couldn’t have said, ‘I’m not feeling great mentally, and I need to get away from the game.’ Because you never know how that’s taken” – Virat Kohli
Throughout the years, cricket researchers have been proactive in standardizing the description of physical injuries, but research on mental health is scant. The latter has gained attention recently as cricketers have been prominent in the mainstream media describing their lived experiences of mental illness. As a result, some have withdrawn from the competition and suggested an unmet need for mental health services within the sport.
There are many flawed beliefs and logic in this regard. A mistaken belief is that ones with successful careers or handsome remunerations can never face mental health issues. It is also
believed that the prevalence of mental illness in cricketers is no more than in the general population, which is not true, as indicated by a few studies. Someone coming out in public regarding his mental health is said to be courageous; why do we need to have the courage to accept a mental health issue?
Cricket’s unique demands may exacerbate existing issues. While crammed scheduling and social media abuse have been raised as key elements of the mental health debate, the sport’s relentless mental challenges may also play a role. In recent years, the COVID bio-bubble has further piled on the stress. There is a never-ending mindset in cricket of not making mistakes and avoiding failure. This places a premium on the mental state of the player.
While the issue still largely remains unaddressed in cricket playing countries, some have taken tiny but practical steps in the right direction, including rest and rotation, mental conditioning coaches, handbooks on mental health, and mental health seminars. Cricketers from various countries are demanding a full-time sports psychologist to travel with the teams. The International Cricket Council and the other cricketing boards should ensure minimum standards of care for mental health and work towards parity for all elite-level cricketers regardless of geographical location but with sensitivity and respect toward cultural beliefs, as suggested by the International Olympic Committee consensus statement.
Cricket has a unique opportunity, considering the cultural importance and open culture in some countries, especially India, to provide research opportunities to overcome unhelpful barriers and provide valuable insights, both within and outside sport. Steps are being taken in the right direction, but the road ahead is still long. Here’s to hoping that the only stress our cricketers face is the run rate.
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