EXPERT COMMENT
WE don’t know the reasons for Michael Yardy’s illness but, with Marcus Trescothick having suffered similar problems, there are several factors that could make cricketers susceptible to depression.
The fact they often spend long periods of time away from home on tour, in hotel rooms on their own can make a cricketer’s life a lonely one, and depression more likely. Cricket can also be quite a soul-destroying game. One day you can be fantastic and then the next you can be dragged through the earth. It’s a team game but played by individuals, so even if the team is doing well a player can feel down about their own performance.
Finally cricketers are usually fairly astute people – they’re not daft – and to that end my reflect and take things personally a bit more than other athletes.
Dr Jamie Barker is a senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Staffordshire University