17 October 2009

Tresco issues

I haven't read Marcus Trescothick's autobiography, but I'm still struggling to understand what the issue is. Originally it seemed to be stress caused by being away from home away from loved ones. Then when Trescothick ruled himself out of playing for England at The Oval this summer, he suggested that he'd had nightmares about the prospect of playing.

This time a plan for him to stay in Dubai and commute in to India for each game (suggesting that it's not just being away from home, its the nature of the location) fell through, but the alternative plan of taking his wife was hatched. Unfortunately it didn't work.

Of course it's impossible to know what he's going through, but am I the only one who's wondering if he needs to push on through? India isn't everyone's cup of tea - it can be relentless and can best be described as "an assault on the senses", but at the end of the day you can retreat to a five star hotel with your wife. Is it really that bad?

I know, I know, I'm a heartless git.

8 comments:

GoodCricketWicket said...

Ed, speaking from the point of view of someone who has witnessed the effects of mental illness at close quarters, it's not that simple.

Illnesses like the one Tres suffeers with don't exactly check your CV and take into account your circumstances before striking.

When it does, where you are or what you're doing may well be completely irrelevant, and there are always uncontrollable trigger events in the home or wherever.

Ultimately, Tres admitted from the start that going to India was a risk and might not work out. At least he gave it his best shot.

Peter Lamb said...

No, you're not the only one who thinks he should push on through. We all have spells when we'd rather be at home than at work, but duty and self-discipline mean that we turn up for work all the same.

GoodCricketWicket said...

Peter

Depression is not just a case of feeling homesick or down in the dumps. It is not just a case of needing duty and self-discipline to get on with it.

When depression strikes, it can be powerful enough to turn any person, no matter how seemingly strong or "ok" externally, into a quivering wreck.

I've witnessed this at first hand, and seen it render someone physically incapable of going out the front door, let alone go to work and put in a full shift.

I don't know the exact circumstances where Trescothick is concerned, but never would I suggest that he "push on through".

Unfortunately, there is so much ignorance surrounding the subject that we still think of it as nothing more than being a bit under the weather. People need to understand that there are varying degrees of depression, and that in many cases it is completely debilitating.

Ed said...

It seems to be one of those things that you simply can't understand unless you've been through it or seen someone close to you go through it.

Hopefully I never understand it!

Peter Lamb said...

To Mr GoodCricketWicket.
Unfortunately I HAVE had close-hand experience of this sort of illness. You are right in saying that there is much ignorance about the subject. All I would say is that, however many psychiatrists are consulted, you will get the same number of DIFFERENT suggested treatments, but they all require a positive attitude by the patient and a determination to get better. Perhaps "push on through" is a poor summary of these requirements.

GoodCricketWicket said...

Peter

Thanks for the clarification, I agree with your latter comment entirely, particularly your point about suggested treatments.

Now, back to the cricket!

Anonymous said...

No one seems to have mentioned that the whole reason Tresco has these problems is that every time he goes away, Micheal Vaughan is round his house showing his Mrs how he can crack one through the covers, so to speak.

Anonymous said...

That is an old and cheap rumour - but his Mrs was with him in India this time.

He clearly has a problem but wouldn't it recur whenever he travelled and stayed for example in Durham for a 4 day game followed a i day match?