A real dark place to be - Depression in cricket

As a keen cricketer myself I listened to 5 Live's Depression in cricket programme yesterday with interest.

There have been two high profile England cricketers in recent years whose depression has prevented them from playing for the national team. Marcus Trescothick, one of the most feared batsmen in the world game at the time returned from a tour of India due to his depression which ultimately ended his international career. Michael Yardy returned home from the World Cup this year due to his depression. At the time Yardy was criticised by Geoff Boycott who brushed his illness off as due to his lack of form.

This programme was well presented by former England captain Michael Vaughan who tells us that there is a lack of understanding among the general public of what depression is which he puts Boycott's comments down to. Trescothick tells us that Boycott "clearly had no idea what was going on." In the programme Vaughan also talks to Matthew Hoggard who suffered his own problems whilst away touring in New Zealand in 2008 and also Kevin Saxelby, whose brother Mark was a professional cricketer who committed suicide in 2000 at the end of a season saying he "couldn't bear another winter".

To a much lesser extent I personally have experienced 'the blues' at the end of a cricket season. At 34 it is unlikely now that I will get the call up to open the batting for England (If Alastair Cook or Andrew Strauss get injured the selectors probably won't look at Dartford's 3rd team) and I have come to terms with that. It doesn't stop me enjoying my cricket and the cricket playing months have been my favourite time of year for at least the last 20 years. I can see how for professionals where cricket is much more a lifestyle  might experience this.

This wasn't the problem for Trescothick though who suffered from being away from home and family touring during the winter. He describes "a massive anxiety problem". In the most extreme he says "It takes over your whole life, you can't sleep, don't want to eat and after a few days of not sleeping your body starts to shut down. It is a real dark place to be." 

Trescothick again: "I would advise anybody who thinks they may have depression to see a doctor." Since receiving treatment he now manages his condition and both he and Yardy are continuing to play at county level.

I must get around to reading Trescothick's book which has been sitting on my book shelf for months. 

You can listen to the Depression in Cricket programme on the BBC's website. It is well worth a listen, although two hours long. Well done BBC for helping to improve understanding of depression and well done Trescothick for being so open about the issues you have faced.

5 live blog: Eleanor Oldroyd on Depression in Cricket