ICC World Cup 2019 | I just had had enough, reminisces Jimmy Neesham
New Zealand player Jimmy Neesham has recounted his journey from being sick of playing the game of cricket in fear of failure to rediscovering his love for the sport and his comeback to the national team. He did not shy from talking about what have been difficult times and delivered a strong message.
Sports is filled with fairytale stories of dreams coming true and the love for the game helping people in ways one cannot imagine. However, amidst the global fanfare, the competitive nature and unrealistic pressure that all of it creates on the players often gets hidden. Sometimes, this negativity can shadow everything wonderful about the sport but that is when one needs to remind himself that it is just a game. Once you are on the field, it may seem like a matter of life or death but at the end of the day, it is not. Who knows this better than Jimmy Neesham.
The all-rounder was ready to hang his boots at the age of 27 a couple of years ago, no longer being able to live with the obsession for success that came with being an international player.Â
"I just had had enough basically. It wasn't a logical thought. I had just had enough of the grind of training and not getting anywhere, and yeah, I just made the decision I didn't want to play anymore. I think that's reasonably simple," Neesham told Cricinfo.
He had missed out on New Zealand’s historic 2015 World Cup run and the injuries did not seem to end. He was frustrated to the point his own country’s success had begun to gnaw at him after being dropped in the follow up to the tournament. Â
"I was watching the tournament a bit bitter, I suppose. About being on the rehab table and not being there. It is still some of your best mates out there playing, you still want them to do well, but then also a bit of you sort of thinks if you are not out there doing it, then you don't want anyone to be out there doing it," admitted Neesham.
However, Heath Mills, the long-serving chief of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, somehow convinced him to play out his contract and take some time off. The player took the opportunity to start seeing a mental-skills coach, a courageous decision which most professionals would shy away from but one Neesham is proud to have made.
"It had reached a point where I was willing to try anything really. It became pretty clear to me that it wasn't a physical problem that was holding me back. It was how I was approaching the game. Sometimes you just have to put your hand up and say you don't have all the answers. And being able to open up to someone else like that and take their suggestions - it feels like the right thing to do but also the brave thing to do."
Back in form and having spent 18 months away from the sidelines, he has by far been 2019’s best all-rounder in the world as far as statistics go and has managed to make his way back into the World Cup squad. Things are looking bright again, he seems to have rediscovered his love for the game and he has a strong message for everyone out there.
"Anyone can get anyone out on their day. Anyone can beat anyone. I think we have all seen guys bat terribly and get hundreds. We have all seen guys nick off first ball, playing a perfect shot. You really understand you have to take each day and train as best as you can and prepare as best as you can absolutely, hit as many balls as you can. Once you are on the field, you have to accept that there is nothing you can do to guarantee your success,” Neesham concluded.
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