Sportspeople are human too.
I’m a huge fan of the Ashes cricket series. Seeing two of the world’s best teams go head to head in a five-day battle is enthralling. And it is just that, a battle.
For the spectators we might enjoy the battle on the oval – the wild bowling, the big catches, the spectacular tons. But while we are sitting enjoying those battles, the players are battling too. Not only against the opposition, but within themselves.
Classy English player Jonathan Trott has gone back to England because he has been battling his inner demons. It has been reported that he has been suffering with a long term stress-related illness and he felt like he couldn’t perform at his best.
He’s gone home to get well and spend some time with his family. Good on him for making the right choice. He has made the right decision and I hope he receives the support, love and care he needs to recover.
What people seem to forget is that sportspeople are just people too. They are not super-human, just human. They hurt like the rest of us.
Cricket is an especially tough sport; not only physically but mentally. You would think it would be nice traveling the world, visiting some of the most exotic cricketing destinations, playing the sport that you love.
But it really is tough. It’s tough because your entire life is consumed by cricket. It is your livelihood. Players are away from their family months at a time (see: cricket widow and cricket orphan – terms to refer to partners and children of cricketers who are never around). They’re in a different hotel room every other day and there is plenty of down time between trainings and matches (in some destinations they can’t even leave their hotel without security). It is not a glam as we might think.
Cricket is also ultimately a sport of failure. You might miss a catch, get out for only a handful, or bowl too many extras. There are more failures than successes. And there is plenty of time to think about your next failure. You dwell on it. So it’s no wonder that cricket has been dubbed the suicide sport. (Cricket historian and writer David Frith wrote Silence of the Heart which discusses this very issue and is a fascinating read for those trying to understand the mental side of cricket.)
Mental illness is a serious thing and it is something we should be talking about. Over the last few years more and more cricketers are talking about their battles with the black dog. Famous English names include Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Marcus Trescothick, while closer to home former NZ cricketers Lou Vincent and Iain O’Brien have been open about their battles.
Iain spoke to Radio New Zealand recently about his time as a cricketer and his battle with mental illness.
One in six New Zealanders will suffer with depression at some stage during their lives. It is not an issue that we can just sweep under the carpet. It’s something we need to talk about and be open about. It is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength to talk about it and do something about it, like Trott has done.
If you are feeling down, or know of someone who is feeling this way there is help:
Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand
Youthline - 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
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