Boycott in Yardy depression row
FORMER England batsman Geoffrey Boycott sparked a storm yesterday by labelling Michael Yardy “a liability” in a highly critical response to the all-rounder’s sudden withdrawal from the World Cup because of depression.
Yardy left the squad 48 hours before tomorrow’s quarter-final against Sri Lanka saying it was the “only sensible option”, but media pundit Boycott showed little sympathy.
“He must have been reading my comments about his bowling, it must have upset him,” he said. “Obviously it was too much for him at this level.”
Boycott added: “For me, he was always going to be a liability or a poor choice at international level out here.”
The case of Yardy, who has been replaced by emergency call-up Adil Rashid, is strikingly similar to that of Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick, who also flew home from the subcontinent five years ago and later quit England duty due to depression.