Panesar desperate to offer his support

MONTY PANESAR wants to use his own experiences to help other players after being appointed a Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) mental health ambassador.

Panesar, 34, is currently self-funding his career at Northants after being released by Essex and the former England spinner has admitted he suffers from anxiety and paranoia.

Panesar, who has made 50 Test appearances for his country, said: “Over the last few years I have had some difficult periods in my cricketing life.

“When my confidence goes quite low I feel that the world is against me, team mates are not with me and that has come through years of being under pressure performing.

“I felt I had low self-esteem and, especially when my confidence went low, I would get into a place of paranoia. Instead of being quiet about it I would get quite aggressive towards umpires and opposition and towards my own team-mates.

“I got quite paranoid about things. There was nothing there but I felt there was something there. Suddenly you over-think and overanalyse things.

“I felt I got into a place where I had anxiety and depression issues.

“To be a PCA mental health ambassador is really important to me because I want to help other cricketers who in the future may feel depressed, have anxiety issues or mental health issues so that they are able to come forward.”