Cricket & suicide

Today the suicide of former cricketer, then cricket commentator Peter Roebuck has tragically been announced. Jumping from his hotel room in Cape Town, he is one in a regrettably long line of cricketers struggling with mental health issues. In the past couple of years I have spoken in the media about both Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy whose battles with depression have been well-documented.

Cricket does put very specific pressure on its players. It is the only team sport I know where the emphasis is perversely on your ability as an individual (the goalies in football have similar issues). The loneliness of standing at the crease is in direct contract to the fact that you are meant to be part of a team.

Sledging is also a part of elite cricket and this behavior (when the fielding side barrack the batsman) requires nerves of steel to withstand.

But above all, it is the nature of the modern game of cricket which is putting to much pressure on players and perhaps commentators alike. Modern cricket de-skills you from being an all-round cricketer, turning you instead into an opening bat, a middle-order bat, and seam bowler, or whatever it might be. And cricketers are prone to breakdowns today largely due to the amount of international cricket in the schedule. Excessive touring plays havoc with social and family relationships.

It is for this reason that this sad story about Peter Roebuck should make the ICC wake up. There is simply too much cricket being played and not enough concern about the effect on the mental health of physically fit men. Suicide is about believing you have no other way to communicate your terror or pain. Cricketers need more of a voice.