Glenn Maxwell decides to take 'short break' from cricket due to mental health issues

Since making his international debut in 2012, the Australia cricketer has played 171 times for the national side in all formats of the game.

He also played in the first two clashes of the three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.

Maxwell withdrew his name from Australia's T20 International squad.

Maxwell recently spoke to Australia's support staff about his mental health and has been given the full backing of Cricket Australia and his state, Victoria, to take time away from the game, reported Cricket Australia's official website.

He was replaced by D'Arcy Short in the T20 squad.

“It took great courage for him to tell us he wasn’t OK,” coach Justin Langer was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia in Melbourne. “In one way, it’s really good for him to do that.

“Behind the mask of the great entertainer and the great talent and the great team man and everything we see publicly, a lot of these guys are human and they’re hurting a bit," the coach said.

“Hopefully he’s going to be fine," he said.

CA's Bupa Support Team psychologist Dr Michael Lloyd said Maxwell had been “proactive in identifying these issues and engaging with support staff”.

Maxwell had made an impressive start to the T20 series against Sri Lanka as he smashed a 28-ball knock of 62 in the opening T20 match against the Island nation.

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