Pomersbach quits due to mental health issues

Queensland batsman Luke Pomersbach has walked away from cricket due to mental health issues. In a statement, Queensland Cricket said that Pomersbach had been "battling issues associated with depression" and he has cut ties with the Bulls and the Brisbane Heat to focus on his recovery.

"Luke's health is the number one priority in all of this and his doctor has told him that at this point in time, it is essential Luke takes a complete break away from the day-to-day pressures and challenges of professional cricket so that he can continue to concentrate on his recovery and rehabilitation from his illness," Geoff Cockerill, the Queensland Cricket chief executive, said.

"We appreciate the difficulties and challenges that Luke faces with his illness. The most important thing is that Luke continues to receive the necessary treatment and has the best possible support available to him. To this end, Queensland Cricket has put into place a number of measures to assist Luke to fund the additional medical and other expenses associated with his ongoing treatment and recovery."

Pomersbach said: "I really appreciate all the help and support that I have received from Queensland Cricket over the past three years and especially over the past couple of months leading up to this difficult decision to leave professional cricket so that I can put all my efforts into getting better and making a full recovery.

"In particular, I would sincerely like to thank Stuart Law and the coaching staff as well as my Bulls and Heat teammates for all the things they have done for me during this difficult time."

Pomersbach, 29, was signed by Queensland in the 2012 off-season, after he announced the previous year that he would skip the 2011-12 season for Western Australia due to "health and well-being issues". He made a positive on-filed impression in Queensland and was the Brisbane Heat's Player of the Year in 2012-13, also averaging 53.87 in the Sheffield Shield last summer.

But during his time with Western Australia, Pomersbach often gained attention for off-field issues as much as his output of runs, and he was suspended four times by the WACA. It was during one of those suspensions that Pomersbach was unexpectedly called up to play for Australia in a Twenty20 international in Perth in 2007-08 when Brad Hodge hurt his back shortly before the match.

Depression has ended the career of another cricketer, with Queensland batsman, Luke Pomersbach announcing his decision to quit the game in order to deal with his illness.

The left-handed batsman played in only one T20I for Australia, but his hard hitting batting was noticed by Indian franchises. Pomersbach had stints with Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he was in the spotlight more for his off-field antics rather than on-field heroics. Pomersbach started his career for Western Australia, before moving eastwards towards Queensland at the start of the 2012-13 domestic season.

Pomersbach had a good early season with the bat for Queensland in 2013-14 and had also been a vital part of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, but he informed the management yesterday that he could not continue with cricket.

"I really appreciate all the help and support that I have received from Queensland Cricket over the past three years and especially over the past couple of months leading up to this difficult decision to leave professional cricket so that I can put all my efforts into getting better and making a full recovery," a statement from Pomersbach said.

"In particular, I would sincerely like to thank Stuart Law and the coaching staff as well as my Bulls and Heat team-mates for all the things they have done for me during this difficult time," Pomersbach said.

Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Cockerhill wished Pomersbach well and said the century he scored in the 2012-13 season of the Big Bash was 'one of the best ever played in the BBL'.

"Luke's health is the number one priority in all of this and his doctor has told him that at this point in time, it is essential Luke takes a complete break away from the day to day pressures and challenges of professional cricket so that he can continue to concentrate on his recovery and rehabilitation from his illness," he said.

"We appreciate the difficulties and challenges that Luke faces with his illness. The most important thing is that Luke continues to receive the necessary treatment and has the best possible support available to him.

"To this end, Queensland Cricket has put into place a number of measures to assist Luke to fund the additional medical and other expenses associated with his ongoing treatment and recovery," Cockerill said.

Pomersbach is not the first player to quit the game due to illness. In the recent past, England's Marcus Trescothick, disgraced New Zealand player, Lou Vincent and England's No.3 batsman, Jonathan Trott have all taken time off the game to recover from depression.