‘I hope my arm was broken’ - Glenn Maxwell on his plight while fighting mental health issues

Glenn Maxwell’s tussle with his mental issues was from the time when Australia were busy playing in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales. The 31-year-old was craving for a break, so much so that he wished for a broken arm and get ruled out of the mega event. Maxwell and Shaun Marsh copped blows on the arm and the latter had to bear the brunt after a fractured forearm.

Peter Handscomb replaced Marsh, but Maxwell took part in all the 10 matches in the tournament. The Victorian didn’t have the most memorable outings though, having scored 177 runs in 10 matches with a top score of an unbeaten 46. Back then, Maxwell was filled with rage for people and also wasn’t happy with his own performance. It was then that he understood the need of the break.

I thought it would’ve been an easy escape: Glenn Maxwell

“I knew he (Marsh) was in trouble when he came in, and immediately I felt bad for him. I just thought I hope he’s OK, and if anything, I wish we could swap our news (suspecting Marsh”s arm was broken),” Maxwell was quoted as saying in the Ordineroli Speaking podcast with Neroli Meadows.

“I was like ‘this is it, I just need a break’… I was thinking about things I could do on the way back to snap it. I had anger at other people and it didn’t make sense, but I was angry at myself for not being able to produce at all this World Cup,” the Aussie all-rounder said

“I thought it would’ve been an easy escape because I felt like I was going to get dropped at some stage and I thought maybe this is the way,” Maxwell added.

Maxwell eventually asked for a break and Justin Langer, the Australia head coach, was more than happy to help out the middle-order batsman. Back in October 2019, he took some time away from cricket after Australia’s opening T20I against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval. In that match, he scored 62 off 28 balls, helping his team post 233 in 20 overs.

His knock was laced with seven fours and three massive sixes. Talking about that knock, Maxwell said that he didn’t enjoy it one bit despite taking down an international attack. He made his return in the 2020 Big Bash League (BBL) and captained the Melbourne Stars to the final.