Shaun Udal tries to remain upbeat but the former England off-spinner admitted to facing “some really dark days” as he adjusts to living with Parkinson’s disease.
A month before turning 50, in February 2019, Udal was informed by post he had been diagnosed with the degenerative and incurable condition which leaves him with pain in his muscles, more acutely at night.
While the charitable arm of the Professional Cricketers’ Association has been a comforting and ever-present help, Udal’s resolve has also been stretched by the loss of his mother during Covid, followed by the sudden deaths of his brother and then his close friend and ex-Hampshire team-mate Shane Warne.
“There were some really dark days, some horrible thoughts went through my head, that obviously glad that I never did, but I’m not ashamed to say that – it was bloody tough,” the 54-year-old said.
“Within the space of a year I had my diagnosis, my mother passed away during Covid, my brother very unexpectedly passed away as well and my great friend Shane Warne passed away as well.
“Shane was totally unexpected, just as I was getting over my mum and brother, then that happens and that knocked me back again.”
Udal – whose playing career started in 1989, ended in 2010 and included four Test and 11 ODI caps for England – gave a small insight into how the condition was impacting his day-to-day life.
“The pain just grips your body, the muscles go very tense and very painful and your thought processes go very down in the dumps and it affects your mood,” he said.
“You go to bed and you can’t go to sleep because of the pain from the muscles is just too great. You take painkillers and sleeping tablets, the pain is still there and you wake up after an hour’s sleep.
“It’s changed my life, it’s changed my wife’s life and my family’s life but I’ll keep going for as long as I can and I’ll keep going and try to fight it.”
The ongoing care of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust has been described as “astonishing” by Udal, who has not only received help for his condition but also counselling to help him come to terms with the bereavements of loved ones.
This weekend’s Vitality Blast Finals Day is in aid of the Trust, a worthy cause according to Udal, who played in the first ever professional T20 in 2003 and was a winner of the competition with Middlesex in 2008.
“The period of diagnoses was something that I could handle and manage but what happened to my mum, my brother and my great mate Warney (the Australia great who died in March last year, aged 52) I had no control over and didn’t see any of it coming,” he added.
“It’s been incredibly difficult, all three off them passing so quickly but I can’t emphasise enough how important the support network has been around me.
“When you’ve got other horrible thoughts going through your head and thinking who would come to my funeral, would they come to my funeral? I’m not too ashamed to admit that those thoughts happened.
“If I didn’t have the support from the Trust at the start, it’s a big thing to say, but I don’t think I’d be here. I think those dark thoughts would have manifested themselves and it would have been too late to turn anything round.
“Having gone through what I went through, I dread to think what could have happened.
“It’s so important to have these people around and the Trust especially I knew were there for me and I knew where to turn. The more awareness the Trust can get the better.”
:: Vitality Blast Finals Day 2023 is supporting the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. The players’ charity provides life-changing and often life-saving support to past and present players. Text TRUSTTEN or TRUSTTWENTY to 70085 to donate £10 or £20 or visit justgiving.com/campaign/blast2023 to find out more and make a donation.
Stokes to have scan on hamstring injury before Pakistan tour
Ben Stokes will have a scan on his hamstring injury next week with the England captain in a race to be fit for their first Test in Pakistan.
Stokes sustained the injury at the start of August and was subsequently absent from the series win over Sri Lanka.
The 33-year-old revealed earlier this month he was being cautious with his recovery rather than risking further damage with a premature return.
As well as netting throughout his recovery, Stokes has also featured in this week's Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Despite the issue, he has been named as captain of England's 17-man squad, which is due to depart on October 1 before beginning the three-match series six days later.
England paceman Wood sidelined until 2025 with elbow injury
England bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining an injury to his right elbow.
Wood played a full part in the first Test versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, despite suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies.
Wood managed two wickets in that match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but he was then replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's, which ended in another comprehensive home win.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now confirmed Wood's injury will rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
The ECB said it will closely monitor Wood's rehabilitation ahead of a potential return to action in early 2025, with England embarking on a white-ball tour of India – their first with Brendon McCullum in charge of their limited-over sides – in January.
They then head to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
Bairstow and Moeen left out of England's white-ball squad
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have both been left out of England's white-ball series squad, with five uncapped players named.
As Jos Buttler looks to the future, Warwickshire batting all-rounders, Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, have been given their first international call-ups for the three-match T20 series against Australia next month.
Essex batter Jordan Cox, Hampshire seamer John Turner and Leicestershire left-arm bowler Josh Hull, who was named as Mark Wood's replacement in the Test squad to play Sri Lanka, have also been picked.
The latter three will also be involved for the five one-day internationals that follow.
World Cup winners Bairstow and Moeen, who have been regular fixtures in England's white-ball squad for over a decade, could have made their final international appearances after being left out of the squad, with Chris Jordan also being overlooked.
Brydon Carse, however, has been recalled for both squads after serving a betting ban, while Saqib Mahmood returns for the T20 series after recovering from injury. Buttler will also be fit to feature after overcoming a calf injury.
Marcus Trescothick will lead England for the first time against Australia after being named Matthew Mott's interim replacement.
Mott left in July following England's semi-final exit to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup, having also failed to help England defend their 50-over world title in 2023.
The first match of the T20 series will take place on September 11 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
England T20 squad to play Australia:
Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner.
England ODI squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
