SARAH TAYLOR
The following case study will discuss Sarah Taylor's struggle with anxiety.
INTRODUCTION
Sarah Taylor is a brilliant cricketer, whether batting or wicketkeeper. She was a critical member of the England Women's teams triumph in the 2017 World Cup. However, in the year leading up to the tournament Taylor gave brave media interviews in which she openly discussed the crippling impact of anxiety on her everyday life and her work as a cricketer. The interviews also revealed the therapy that she was under-going. While the England team staff were involved in helping Taylor manage her anxiety (e.g. not going on all international tours), unfortunately her continued anxiety led to her retiring from international cricket at the age of 30. She continues to play county cricket for Sussex. She has also co-founded a mental health charity (Awesome Mind).
TIMELINE
16th May 2016 - 24th June 2017
16TH MAY 2016
Press statement announces Sarah Taylor's indefinite break from cricket.
8TH JUNE 2017
Official English Cricket Board (ECB) "break" interview with Sarah Taylor. Discusses her anxiety and the treatment plans.
15TH DECEMBER 2016
Handed 2-year ECB central contract.
10TH APRIL 2017
Added to UAE training camp squad preparing for World Cup. Originally left out of squad.
26TH APRIL 2017
Return to action Vs. Ireland in UAE.
30TH APRIL 2017
Taylor posts tweet from own account (@Sarah_Taylor30). Proud of England return.
30TH MAY 2017
England coach Mark Robinson interview post UAE tour. "She’s not out of the woods yet but she’s making great strides". World Cup selection remains possible.
22ND MAY 2017
Taylor picked in World Cup squad.
26TH MAY 2017
Official English Cricket Board (ECB) "return" interview with Sarah Taylor.
24TH JUNE 2017
Plays in all of England's victorious World Cup matches (games played: 9/9), Runs: 22, 11, 74no, 147, 35, 8, 0, 54, 45; Total Runs: 396; Batting Average: 49.50; Catches: 4; Stumpings: 2.
MEDIA COVERAGE
16 May 2016
Sarah Taylor: England keeper-batter takes indefinite break for personal reasons
An England spokesperson said: “Sarah is taking a break from cricket at the moment having decided to take some personal time away from the game. We will support her, keep in touch and talk with her prior to selection for the Pakistan series and the start of the Kia Super League."
BBC and Guardian paraphrase this as an "indefinite break [for] personal reasons"
During absence Sarah Taylor missed the following England fixtures and tours:
Missed One Day International (ODI) matches.
Summer Home fixtures (2016):
June - July 2016 Vs. Pakistan (6 fixtures)
Winter Away fixtures (2016-17):
October 2016 Vs. West Indies (5 fixtures)
November 2016 Vs. Sri Lanka (4 fixtures)
April 2017 Vs. Ireland (in UAE - returned in 2nd match of 3 match tour)
Total fixtures missed: 16 matches
15 December 2016 (England Women 2-year central contract announcement - includes Sarah Taylor)
https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/219480
“I’m also happy to confirm that we have offered Sarah Taylor a new contract. Sarah is doing really well with her return to cricket plan after taking some time away from the game for health reasons. Her aim has always been to be back playing and available for selection for the World Cup next summer, and we’ll continue to offer her the support she needs to achieve that goal."
24 March 2017 (Original UAE training camp squad announcement - Sarah Taylor not included)
https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/354904
“Sarah Taylor is going really well at the moment and is back in training. Her return is a graduated one which is regularly reviewed as she works herself back to hopefully full fitness. There are no timescales in place for her but her goal is still to give herself the best chance of being able to play in the World Cup.”
10 April 2017 (UAE training camp squad updated - Sarah Taylor joins squad)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39558444
Wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has joined England on their training camp in the UAE - her first official involvement with the squad since May 2016.
The 27-year-old took an indefinite break from the game to deal with anxiety problems.
She was initially omitted from the party that is preparing for the World Cup in England, but has now travelled with the other 24 members of the squad.
England will play two intra-squad games and three matches against Ireland.
Taylor, regarded as one of the world's best batters and the first woman to play first-grade men's cricket in Australia, had her central contract renewed in December with the aim of being fit for the World Cup.
She was left out of the training squad announced in March, with no timescale placed on her return.
WEDNESDAY 26TH APRIL 2017 (RETURN TO ACTION VS. IRELAND)
30th April 2017 - Taylor proud of England return - Twitter messages
@Sarah_Taylor30
Sarah Taylor's 'return' tweet from personal account (3 April 2017)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39765875
30th April 2017 - Taylor proud of England return - Twitter messages
@Sarah_Taylor30
Sarah Taylor's 'return' tweet from personal account (3 April 2017)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39765875
24 May 2017 - Mark Robinson talks about Taylor’s “incredible year”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/40013567
England head coach Mark Robinson says Sarah Taylor has had an "incredible year" after naming her in his squad for the World Cup, which starts in June.
Taylor took an indefinite break from cricket in May 2016 to help deal with anxiety problems.
The 28-year-old returned to England action for a one-day international against Ireland in Dubai in April.
"She'll have learned a lot about herself and faced up to a lot of battles," Robinson told BBC Sussex.
"She feels confident enough to put herself forward for selection. We've got a bit of time to go yet for her to keep doing what we call a graduated return and that's what she's done.
"She's managed to conquer most of her battles at the moment, so the medical team are confident enough, she's confident enough and she's ready to go."
Taylor has played in 101 one-day internationals for England, averaging 39.76 with the bat.
"Sarah's mental wellbeing and mental health is the most important thing, and that's the same for any cricketer," Robinson continued.
"What I do know with Sarah, and with you with me or with any of us, is if you're physically fit and mentally fit you can do a lot in our jobs and in our lives so we have to protect that side of Sarah.
"If she keeps ticking the right boxes and doing the right things to keep her mental health going and her physical fitness going, she's got every chance of having a really successful World Cup."
26 May 2017 (Return interview) Attached separately
A video of an official ECB interview with Sarah Taylor is released (7 minutes 49 seconds)
https://www.ecb.co.uk/tv/403099
2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/45683801
England coach Mark Robinson said: "Since the end of the summer Sarah hasn't been able to train fully with the squad due to not being as fit as she would want to be from a psychological point of view.
"At the moment she isn't in a place where we would all be comfortable that the demanding training, playing and travel schedule wouldn't potentially put her backwards and make her road to full recovery longer."
"It's important we see mental health in a similar way to a player with a physical injury," added Robinson.
"You wouldn't risk a player if you felt that playing them with an injury would increase the chances of them being out for a long time or the issue even becoming career-threatening.
"Sarah will continue to train at Loughborough at a pace more suited to where she is right now with a view to hopefully being fully fit in the new year."
UPDATES:
For updates on Sarah Taylor's career and mental health:
Sarah Taylor retires from international cricket:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/27/sarah-taylor-quits-international-cricket-due-to-problems-with-anxiety