If even Andrew Flintoff had returned from the so called Champions’ League twenty20 in India with a recurrence of an ankle injury the headlines would be brief and the coverage over in a day. It might barely get a mention on Sky Sports’ News as the tournament is being covered on Eurosport.
With a recurrence of Trescothick’s stress and anxiety issues we get days of coverage adding nothing new or insightful. We’ve had county spokesman stand by him. The whole coverage has implied that people should or might assume he had done something wrong or that this was somehow different to other injuries. It is not like Trescothick would have a high profile anymore either.
The people speaking out on Tresco’s behalf are actually doing him no favors. He does not need eulogies or suggestions of bravery. He does not need people to stand by him like someone coming out of prison. He is ill and coming home just as if he had broken a finger. No need for fuss or worry.
To show their sensitivity Sky even doorstepped him back to the Taunton ground. It’s funny but I never saw them pursue Flintoff back to the pub.
There clearly is a stigma with mental health issues. Why? I have no idea.
