List of International cricketers who committed suicide
Cricketers who committed suicide: Suicides among cricketers are more frequently reported at the domestic level, where players often encounter significant challenges in advancing their careers. Cricketers are not immune to suicide, which often reflects underlying issues such as depression, personal or financial troubles, and health concerns in some cases. However, these tragedies are more commonly reported at the domestic level, where players face numerous challenges in developing their careers. Referencing books on cricketers’ suicides, such as By His Own Hand by David Frith (1990) and Silence of the Heart: Cricket Suicides (2001), it has been noted that around 20 international cricketers took their own lives due to depression, financial difficulties, and long-term health issues. The most recent case is that of England’s David Bairstow, father of current England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow, who took his own life in 1998 due to depression stemming from conflicts with the administration of his county team, Yorkshire. Former Sri Lankan player Sunil Jayasinghe took his own life at the age of 40 after spending over a decade away from the sport, having been banned by the national board from playing any form of cricket for 25 years. After moving to South Africa during the apartheid era due to the Sri Lankan board’s meager pay, he returned to Sri Lanka only to face a ban from the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. Here are cricketers who committed suicide after playing at the International level: Player Country Internationals Birth Year Death Reason William Scotton England 15 Tests 1856 Slitting his throat with razor (in 1893) Depressed by losing his place in Nottinghamshire team Arthur Shrewsbury England 23 Tests 1856 Shot himself at his sister’s home (1903) Incorrectly believed that he had an incurable disease Vincent Tancred South Africa 1 Test 1875 Shot killed himself (in 1904) Depression Albert Trott Australia / England 5 Tests 1873 Shot killed himself (in 1914) Financial issues Andrew Stoddart England 16 Tests 1863 Killed himself by firearm (in 1915) Failing health and burden of debts Billy Zulch South Africa 16 Tests 1886 Cut his throat (in 1924) Nervous Breakdown William Bruce Australia 14 Tests 1864 Drowned into a Sea (in 1925) Depression Aubrey Faulkner South Africa 25 Tests 1881 Gassed himself at his cricket school (in 1930) Depression Albert Relf England 13 Tests 1874 Shot killed himself (in 1937) Depressed by the illness of his wife George Shepstone South Africa 2 Tests 1876 Shot killed himself (in 1940) Suffering from cancer Fen Cresswell New Zealand 3 Tests 1915 Found dead with a gun next to him (in 1966) Suffering from cancer Jack Iverson Australia 5 Tests 1915 Shot killed himself (in 1973) Depression Sidney Barnes Australia 13 Tests 1916 Consumed barbiturates and bromide (in 1973) Depression Harold Gimblett England 3 Tests 1914 Overdosage of drugs (in 1978) Psychological problems Jim Burke Australia 24 Tests 1930 Killed himself with a shotgun (in 1979) Personal and financial worries Noel Harford New Zealand 8 Tests 1930 Unknown (in 1981) Financial issues Joe Partridge South Africa 11 Tests 1932 Shot killed himself in a Police Station (in 1988) Arrested for not paying hotel bill Glen Hall South Africa 1 Test 1938 Shot killed himself after several suicide attempts (in 1987) Divorce Sunil Jayasinghe Sri Lanka 2 ODIs 1955 Took poison (in 1995) 25-year ban by Sri Lanka Cricket Board David Bairstow England 4 Tests, 21 ODIs 1951 Hanged himself at home (in 1998) Depression E2Bet : Welcome! Join Us for Non-Stop Betting Action!