Glenn Maxwell news: Australian all-rounder takes break from cricket for mental health reasons

Glenn Maxwell news: The 31-year old Australian all-rounder has taken an indefinite break from cricket to sort mental health.

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has taken an indefinite break from cricket to sort his mental health. The surprising development came less than 24 hours after Maxwell played the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Brisbane yesterday.

Coming on the back of a quickfire seventh T20I half-century in the first innings in Adelaide, not many would have expected Maxwell to take such a step but that is the nature of international cricket and the ramifications which come along with it.

A regular part of Australia’s white-ball formats for nearly six years now, Maxwell has scored in vicinity of 4,500 runs in 171 white-ball matches.

Glenn Maxwell news

Australia coach Justin Langer opened up on Maxwell’s health in Melbourne. Laying emphasis on Maxwell not having “much fun” at the moment, Langer said that Maxwell not letting anyone know about the same was due to a “mask” which he put on.

“Even though he [Glenn Maxwell] had that incredible innings in Adelaide and fielded like a genius, I don’t think he got much joy out of it. He’s not having that much fun at the moment, even though he has that smile on his face when he plays.

“He’ll get assessed in Melbourne in the next day or so and like all injuries, we’ll work out where he’s at and when he will play again, hopefully happier and healthier which is more important.

“That’s the mask he puts on, it’s his armour, his energy and the way he plays. He’s the great entertainer but underneath the mask – you probably just sense it. When you build relationships with people you sense when they’re not quite right and I asked him the day before the Adelaide game and that’s when he said we probably need that little chat,” Langer was quoted as saying.

How Twitter reacted on Maxwell’s break:

Here’s the latest on Glenn Maxwell, his withdrawal and replacement in the Australian T20I side – featuring some fitting words from Justin Langer on Maxwell’s courage to admit he was struggling. pic.twitter.com/VSPmpy1njc

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2019

As professional as sport has become, you always hope elite athletes have the right support group around them at home & amidst friends & family. It’s a tough bubble to live within & what you see on TV isn’t often what they’re really going through. Feel well soon @Gmaxi_32 #Maxwell

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 31, 2019

#Maxwell‘s announcement again highlights the strain mentally on sportspersons in the limelight. Especially ones who are constantly talked about and commented on.

— Rahul Puri (@rahulpuri) October 31, 2019

The last person you would have expected to have issues with his mental health and depression is Glenn Maxwell. Have always found him full of life and good cheer and it just tells you of the hidden stresses of top athletes. Look forward to seeing him back soon

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 31, 2019

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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