AUSSIE showman Glenn Maxwell has revealed how a bouncer from Mark Wood sparked a mental-health crisis that threatened his career.
Maxwell descended into depression and needed a break from cricket following the 2019 World Cup in England.
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His problems started after his own team thought he was vulnerable to short bowling when dismissed by West Indies’ speedster Sheldon Cottrell and then Wood.
Maxwell, 36, admits: “I began what proved to be the worst time of my cricket career and would deepen into the worst time of my life.”
Against England at Lord’s, Maxwell tried to uppercut a short ball from Wood but nicked a catch behind to Jos Buttler.
It followed a dismissal by Cottrell earlier in the tournament and Maxwell says people started making “ridiculous snap judgments”.
He adds: “A problem with short bowling? Me? Are you f***ing joking? I’ve made a career out of smashing the quickest bowlers in the world all over the park.”
The Aussies beat England by 64 runs and then beat New Zealand although Maxwell was dismissed by another short ball, this time brilliantly caught and bowled by medium-pacer Jimmy Neesham.
Australia’s next game was against South Africa at Old Trafford.
The day before, when players normally avoid very fast bowling, Maxwell received a 90mph bouncer from Mitchell Starc in the nets.
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Then came another high-velocity delivery from Pat Cummins that reared up and struck Maxwell on the forearm.
He threw down his bat in fury, believing his arm was broken.
Maxwell later discovered team coach Justin Langer had been talking to a group of journalists.
And Maxwell recalls: “Our coach said something to the effect of, ‘If you think he has a problem with the short ball, watch this!’ Then told our guys to bump the s**t out of me.”
A few minutes later, batsman Shaun Marsh was also struck on the arm and he and Maxwell went to hospital.
Maxwell says: “It was in that car that I came to the realisation that I wanted my arm to be broken.
“If I wasn’t delivering, and the perception was that I was a drag on the team, then f*** it — I may as well be out of there.”
The scan showed bruising but no break. Marsh did suffer a break and never played for Australia again.
Maxwell passed a fitness test but word had spread. He was bombarded by South Africa’s fast bowlers and caught behind for 12 top-edging another bouncer.
The in-form Matthew Wade was called into the squad as an injury replacement and Maxwell adds: “I was embarrassed to be in the team ahead of Wadey.
“My confidence was shot, positivity had vanished. I felt like the worst player in the team.”
After Australia lost to England in the semi-final, Maxwell broke down when he saw his parents.
He says: “Mum was just as emotional as me — everything came rushing out. She could tell her boy was hurting.”
I know this can happen again… I have a risk of spiralling as quickly as I did in 2019”
Glenn Maxwell
Instead of taking the break he needed, Maxwell played for Lancashire straight after the World Cup. And then six T20 games in Australia against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
During a team meeting, Maxwell had what felt like a panic attack and afterwards poured out his emotions with Aussie team psychologist Michael Lloyd.
He adds: “It all came out — how sick I felt, how scared, what my mind was doing to me.”
Coach Langer was supportive and it was agreed Maxwell would play the first two of the six matches then take a break.
Maxwell explains: “I think my team-mates were stunned. Their confusion was mirrored by the public — didn’t I just smash a quick 50 and sound happy on TV?
“But using this facade to appear OK had turned me into a cardboard cut-out.”
Maxwell was at home for several weeks and consulted Dr Ranjit Menon, a psychiatrist specialising in sports people who have suffered breakdowns.
The diagnosis was depression and anxiety, with antidepressants prescribed.
After more than a month, Maxwell began playing club matches and then came a successful Big Bash campaign.
He concludes: “I know this can happen again. There have already been moments in the years since when anxiety and stress begin to build. I know I have a risk of spiralling as quickly as I did in 2019.”
- The Showman by Glenn Maxwell, published by Simon and Schuster, is out today.
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