”A lot of it started during COVID. My trip to the IPL – I left home not in the headspace that I probably should have been.” Richardson spoke about his struggles with Cricket Australia from three years ago when COVID-19 disrupted the Indian Premier League (IPL) season he was part of, leaving many players stranded overseas due to Australia’s stringent biosecurity measures. He highlighted how the uncertainty and isolation during that time added to the mental burden, as players were unsure when or how they could return home amidst the country’s strict travel restrictions.
He added, “ Then things sort of hit the fan while I was away, and everything with COVID and not being able to get home and stuff like that, it just toppled on top of each other.”
The 2021 IPL season was initially scheduled to be held entirely in India. However, after several players tested positive for COVID-19, the tournament was postponed for a few months. At the time, Richardson was part of the Punjab Kings squad. The tournament was eventually rescheduled to September 2021, but the disruption left many players, including Richardson in limbo as they navigated the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and the strict travel restrictions in place.
Richardson also acknowledged the support he has received from the Western Australia Cricket Association, for whom he plays in domestic cricket. He emphasized that the association’s resources and support systems have been invaluable in helping him and other players manage mental health challenges.
He said, “ A lot of the judgment has gone nowadays. Within our (WA) group we trust everyone with the way that they want to go about things. People are individuals – they train in different ways, and they think differently. The resources within cricket nowadays make the process of dealing with mental health issues a lot easier and there is a lot more education there. But as someone who has dealt with anxiety, not just on the field but away from cricket and day-to-day living, it can be quite exhausting.”
The right-arm quick has played three Tests, 15 ODIs, and 18 T20Is, accumulating a total of 57 wickets. His international career began with his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2017, followed by his Test debut against the same team in 2019. In 2018, Richardson also made his ODI debut against England, marking the start of his journey in the 50-over format.
