Glenn Maxwell Takes Break From Cricket Due To Mental Health Issues

The Independent

Glenn Maxwell will be away from the cricket ground for a little while as the all-rounder is struggling with his mental health.

Maxwell was a part of the Australian squad for the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka and he looked in fluent touch with the bat in the first game where he batted at no. 3 for the Aussies.

The 31-year old all-rounder was sharp with his fielding too, as he usually is. He was pretty chirpy during both the games and there were no indications that he was dealing with any mental health issues.

But, the psychologist of the Australian cricket team, Dr Michael Lloyd, broke the news earlier today that Maxwell won’t take part in the third game of the Australia vs Sri Lanka T20I series.

“Glenn Maxwell has been experiencing some difficulties with regards to his mental health. As a result, he will spend a short time away from the game.”, Lloyd was quoted saying by cricket.com.au.

This is not the first time that a cricketer has been diagnosed with mental health issues. Jonathan Trott, the South Africa-born England cricketer, had to return from the Ashes tour of 2013-14 because of the same issues.

The England women cricketer, Sarah Taylor, has also suffered mental health issues for a long time and it was one of the main reasons why she announced her retirement from international cricket earlier this year.

D’Arcy Short, the left-handed opening batsman, has been drafted into the Australian squad on the place of Maxwell for the third T20I against Sri Lanka.

While Short is also a clean striker of the ball, he is a top order batsman and it doesn’t seem he would get a place in the playing XI unless Australia decide to rest David Warner.

In Maxwell’s absence, Ben McDermott might be given an opportunity to bat in the middle order along with Ashton Turner who hasn’t had too much to do in this series so far.

 

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