Alan Jones weighs in on cricket’s mental health crisis after THREE young stars pull out due to their well being
- Will Pucovski, 21, is the latest Australian cricket star to step aside from the sport
- Glenn Maxwell and Nic Maddinson have also stepped aside due to mental health
- Alan Jones said worrying trend shows something isn’t ‘right in Australian cricket’
- He said inside word was players were frustrated with selectors’ ‘mixed messages’
Radio host Alan Jones has said ‘something is not right in Australian cricket’ after three of the nation’s young players stepped away from the sport citing mental health issues.
Will Pucovski, 21, told team management on Tuesday he did not want to be considered for Australia A’s three-day tour game against Pakistan because of his mental health.
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell and batsman Nic Maddinson also both announced they would be taking time out from the game for the same reason.
Radio host Alan Jones (pictured) has said ‘something is not right in Australian cricket’ after three of the nation’s young players stepped away from the sport citing mental health issues
Jones, a former Wallabies head coach, weighed in on the worrying trend on Thursday morning on his 2GB radio show.
‘There’s something not right happening at the moment in Australian cricket,’ he said.
‘I’ve been in sport at this level for a long time. I don’t understand this.
‘The inside word is players are frustrated with the mixed messages and lack of communication from selectors. Whether that’s the issue, I have no idea.’
Cricket Australia said in a statement on Thursday morning they fully supported Pucovski’s decision.
‘We applaud Will for having the courage to discuss his situation with team management in Perth,’ Cricket Australia’s executive general manager of national teams Ben Oliver said.
Will Pucovski, 21, (pictured) told team management on Tuesday he did not want to be considered for Australia A’s three-day tour game against Pakistan because of his mental health
‘Will’s decision not to nominate for Test selection was the right one in the circumstances and one that everyone in the Australian cricket family supports.’
Pucovski had been touted as a potential rival for a batting spot in Australia’s middle order, and looked in high spirits during a warm-up game in Perth this week.
He also withdrew from the Test squad against Sri Lanka last February for mental health reasons.
It comes after all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (pictured with his partner Vini Raman) and batsman Nic Maddinson both revealed they would be taking time out from the game for the same reason