Michael Clarke opens up on battle with disorder

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke revealed his battle with a mental disorder, sharing he suffered extreme sadness and lack of motivation.

Clarke, who hung up his boots after leading Australia to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015 triumph, has emerged as a new voice in the sport after taking up commentary.

While speaking to the Mental as Anyone podcast, Michael Clarke shared that even though he never sought medical attention or went for a diagnosis but was sure battling a mental disorder which causes extreme sadness.

The World Cup-winning captain further revealed that he experienced “sadness” such that he could not move for days.

“I have never been checked; I think it is a given. It is like ADD [attention deficit disorder, it’s a given. Definitely, ask my parents; you don’t need to take me to a doctor. I’ve certainly been extremely sad, devastated, floored, can’t move for days, and can’t get out of bed.

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“I’ve lost family members and a couple of my closest friends, so I think I’ve felt the deepest sadness, but I think it was sadness.

“I don’t know if it was depression. I’ve never gone to a doctor to be diagnosed with depression, for example, or to seek medication for depression.

Michael Clarke then went on to claim that he was not embraced as much as some other Australian greats like Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor, because some of his choices did not go well with the fans.

“I don’t think any of those three have tattoos, have an earring, dye their hair, or, you know, play a handful of Test matches and want a Ferrari, so I went and bought one. I did what I felt. Those decisions that I made that probably people didn’t agree with were fair enough as well,” said Clarke.

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