Michael Yardy

Lurking on my bookshelves is an unusual book by David Frith. Entitled ‘By His Own Hand’ it is an account of cricketing suicides, and it is startling that there is such a rich source of content. There have, of course, been high profile suicides such as Harold Gimblett, Jack Iverson and David Bairstow, but there does seem to be an alarming trend through the history of the game.

The decision of Michael Yardy to return home from the World Cup due to depression is, therefore, to be applauded rather than dismissed, as Geoffrey Boycott did, in a manner that was insensitive even by his own remarkable standards. Depression is a pernicious illness: it is not simply a question of feeling a bit sad but an overwhelming sensation that, unless it is acknowledged and managed, can quickly lead to its sufferer being yet another story for a revised edition of David Frith’s book. Top level cricket can be remarkably bad for the mental health not only of players but also of their families: England’s players have been away from family and home, and the normality and stability that these bring, for a very long time, playing a high pressure game in which there is nowhere for an individual to hide. The surprise is not that a player is suffering from depression but that more of them aren’t.

Attention will now turn to the likely identity of his replacement in the squad, but we should all wish Michael Yardy well, and give him thanks for the contribution that he has made to the side.