When Lara’s downward spiral caused ‘despair’

Mumbai, December 6

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara has revealed that he experienced a “feeling of despair” even at the peak of his career, and asserted that mental health issues are real in international cricket and the intensity of the game can sometimes be a burden.

The iconic Lara holds the record for the highest individual scores in both First-Class (501 not out, made in 1993) and Test cricket (400 not out, in 2004). He is the only cricketer to have claimed the Test record score twice (1994 and 2004). However, he has revealed that his records played a part in his mental troubles.

“From the beginning of my international career in 1989 to about 1995, it was on an upward spiral. I don’t think a lot of people will appreciate (but) from 1995-98, it was on a downward spiral,” Lara said. “I felt the pressures of being a double world record holder, (it) played its part and the West Indies team was on its decline.”

“I remember on occasions where I lay in my room feeling the despair. It (mental health issue) is real, it is part of all sport and it is coming to the fore now with a lot more aggression. Players are at least standing up and saying ‘I need to just remove myself, fight myself and comeback again’,” said Lara.

In recent past, several Australian cricketers, including star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, have taken a break from the game to battle mental health issues. “The kind of pressures the players are in now, maybe before, in the 1970s and 1980s, you played for the love of the game, you played for your country, you loved Test cricket,” Lara said. “With all the franchise cricket going on around in the world, the intensity of the game, sometimes is a burden. Guys are playing for England and not playing county cricket, guys are playing for Australia and not playing Sheffield cricket (and) that just tells you how mentally draining it is.” — PTI