Pressures of bubble life taking heavy toll on players, psychologists warn

NEW DELHI－Psychologists have called for better support for cricketers' mental well-being as they head into a second year confined to bio-secure "bubbles" around the world.

Cricket's long tours away from homes and family have often caused problems in the past but the restrictions of quarantine and bubble life are posing extra difficulties, experts say.

England's Jonny Bairstow said he spent just six nights at home in the second half of last year, while Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis saw his family for the first time in seven months in January.

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj missed his father's November funeral after deciding to stay in quarantine with his teammates in Australia.

Sports psychologists and psychiatrists have warned of the toll being taken on players and said there is a "stigma" over coming forward, particularly in Asian nations.

Amit Anand, a consultant psychiatrist and a panel member for golf's European Tour, quoted one former Australian national captain as saying that mental health problems had reached "almost epidemic proportions" among players.

"England, Australia and New Zealand have structured mental health support; their respective players' associations are strong on supporting players' mental health and well-being," Hassan Mahmood, a British psychiatrist who works with elite English cricketers, told AFP.

"It would be ideal to have this in place for all Test-playing nations. There are a significant number of Test nations in South Asia, where there might be stigma related to mental health issues."

Anand said players can suffer problems ranging from lack of sleep and anxiety to depression, while their families also suffer, especially those with young children.

He insisted better "mental health literacy" is needed among players to "address the issues related to stigma and to provide approximate interventions".

England batsman Bairstow told how players had become "addicted "to the Call of Duty video game as he highlighted the pressures while in Sri Lanka.

"I am not going to lie about it, it is something that does take a toll because you are going from the hotel to the cricket ground, back to the hotel," said Bairstow.

"Unfortunately the guys are unable to see their families, their kids, wives, girlfriends, over a long period of time, which is tricky."

"The Skype chats, the people who have been with you through thick and thin back home are the ones that you call up and chat to and keep you going," he added.

Cricket Australia took the lead in hiring a mental health expert last year and many top international teams followed, including England which brought a psychologist on its current tour to Sri Lanka and India.

Shree Advani, India's leading sports psychologist who has advised stars including top badminton player PV Sindhu and cricketer Robin Uthappa, said more players are coming forward because of the pandemic.

"So many cricketers come to me for advice," he said, adding that players are struggling "to get back with that same level of confidence, with the insecurity about selection, the extra pressure to perform".

England skipper Joe Root urged his teammates to "not hide away if they are feeling (the) blues" before they left for Sri Lanka and India, the start of a long year for the team which will play 17 Tests in 2021.

Mahmood said any psychological fallout from bubble life will come in for intense scrutiny once the crisis has passed.

"Hopefully, once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, there will be a period of reflection to ascertain the full impact of the bio-secure bubbles on the mental health of cricketers," he said.

AFP