Cricket Australia reveals plan to encourage players to work to help fight mental health battles
Cricket Australia has stepped up its plan to improve the mental health of its players, as two stars who had stepped away from the game prepare to make their returns.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Indian media’s dig over Pakistan ‘teen’ sensation
- Craddock: Time for cricket to get out of the stone age
Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson are set to return to club cricket in Victoria this weekend, after separately taking time out to address mental health issues.
Both stars stepped away from duties over the past fortnight but it’s understood they’re in line to return to the park this weekend.
Maxwell took a break during Australia’s Twenty20 series after a relentless year of cricket, while Maddinson stepped back on the eve of Australia A’s clash against Pakistan.
Stream the Australia v Pakistan Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly>
Meanwhile, domestic players across the country will go back to work in a bid to improve mental health inside the cricket bubble.
Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts announced yesterday that eight hours will be set aside every week for domestic players to either work on post-cricket careers or put back into the community.
The innovative plan was outlined in the last collective bargaining agreement, but Roberts has declared the initiative aimed at improving the life balance of cricketers will now be properly enforced.
Australian women’s star Sophie Molineux became the latest high-profile player to take a mental health break, following in the wake of men’s big names Maxwell, Maddinson and Will Pucovski.
It’s unknown when Maxwell and Maddinson might return to State cricket for Victoria, but playing club cricket in Melbourne will be the first step.
Roberts told SEN’s Gerard Whateley how one of the most profound moments of his own first-class career was being able to go to work at shoe company Asics the day after suffering a serious hand injury.
The CEO said if he didn’t have the other focus in his life he would have dwelt on the impact of the injury and how long he was sidelined for.
Roberts is determined to find a way to mandate balance in the lives of players, even in the professional era.
“Having eight hours every week carved out for every domestic player, male or female to work on their professional development or contribute to the community,” Roberts told SEN.
“We know from research in the past that doing either of those things enhances anyone’s well-being.
“Whilst we’ve carved out that eight hours a week (in the MOU) I can’t hand on heart say we’re utilising that to our absolute potential and maximizing it.
“But it’s something we’ll be discussing with the ACA … we came up with that together and we’ll be working with states and territories to make sure when we have payers merge into national teams, they’re more well-rounded and they’re contributing to their communities and getting involved in other aspects of life.”
The MOU stats eight hours a week must be set aside by States for players to pursue outside interests during the off-season, but also encourages the initiative to be maintained in-season (with the exception of during the Big Bash).
Steve Smith admitted in a recent interview that he hadn’t put enough time into community work until he was prescribed 100 hours of community service as part of his Cricket Australia imposed penalty for ball-tampering.
Now the former Australian captain makes time to continue his work with men’s suicide prevention charity Gotcha 4 Life and believes he is better for it.
Reborn Australian batsman Matthew Wade had returned to Tasmania to start a carpentry apprenticeship after his last axing from the Test side two years ago and credits the transition into a post-cricket mindset for relaxing his mindset.
Originally published as Cricket Australia reveals plan to encourage players to work to help fight mental health battles