Daniel Sams takes a break from international cricket

Cricket Australia (CA) announced a 23-member preliminary squad for the limited-overs tour to the West Indies. Among the huge squad of players, there were the likes of Matthew Wade, Jhye Richardson, Riley Meredith, and Tanveer Sangha. However, there were a few notable players who were missing. One of them was New South Wales all-rounder Daniel Sams.

As it turns out, Sams, who had recently returned to his country from India requested the CA to keep him out of consideration for this tour due to personal and mental reasons. The 28-year-old was part of the T20I series which the Australian team played in New Zealand ahead of the Indian Premier League 2021.

Sams made his international debut for Australia in a T20I match against India in Sydney in December 2020. This opportunity had come after an impressive show for his Big Bash League franchise, Sydney Thunder. He has played in a total of four T20Is and has picked up four scalps. In addition to that, he has also scored 54 runs at a strike rate of 234.78.

Daniel Sams could be a victim of bio-bubble stress and fatigue

However, after his last international for the Aussie team, things didn’t go according to how he would have wished. Ahead of the IPL 2021 auction, he was transferred to the Royal Challengers Bangalore unit. He arrived in India ahead of the season but was tested positive with COVID-19. He recovered and returned to the XI, but only after two appearances, the tournament had to be called off, due to the rising COVID cases in India.

ESPNCricinfo updated with the news of Sams deciding to not feature due to mental health problems. Sams is not the first player who has asked for a break from his board to access his mental health and personal issues. Before the pandemic started, this topic had become something to discuss, when players like Glenn Maxwell, Will Pucovski, and Nic Maddinson took breaks from the game.

However, due the pandemic, the bio-bubbles and living inside them have also caused players mental fatigue or mental health issues. Sams’ decision to take a break from the tour, knowing that the tour could help him to be in the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, is just another example of how these players are getting through the difficult times, by providing entertainment to the fans.