Why isn mitchell johnson playing

You have nothing to be ashamed of Mitchell Johnson. Well done mate. This was hard to watch. Mitchell Johnson was a legend playing cricket for Australia. Watching him decide to quit was a massive surprise. Actually grew to like him even more. I was actually devastated for him. But mental game is everything and when you have to give up you feel like a failure.

And I totally get where he is coming from. Johnson, who retired from professional cricket in , said his battle with depression stems form before his playing days finished. Johnson is among the top five Australian wicket-takers of all time in Tests, one-day internationals and T20s. Readers seeking support and information about mental health issues can contact Beyond Blue on 22 or Lifeline on 13 11 Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.

Paige VanZant certainly knows how to whip up a frenzy on social media. See what all the fuss is about here. Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket," Johnson wrote for the Perth Now website.

But the fact is my body is starting to shut down. Johnson said he turned down a return with the Perth Scorchers because he "mentally I'm done as well". I did believe I could still be helpful around the playing group with my experience.

But I think mentally I'm done as well," Johnson wrote. If I can't play at per cent then I can't give my best to the team. And for me it's always been about the team.

Johnson played the past two seasons for Perth following his retirement from international cricket and was instrumental in their BBL 06 title campaign, stunning the Melbourne Stars with in the semi-final, and taking in the final as Perth trounced Sydney Sixers. Johnson, who will turn 37 in early November, indicated he would be open to a coaching or mentoring role in the future after a break. You sort of lose your purpose a little bit," he added.

Johnson, who took wickets from 73 Tests, retired from Test cricket in but continued to play for three more years in the IPL and Big Bash. I'm in that transition now where I've been out of playing cricket for about two years," the year-old said.

Asked if he had found retirement hard, Johnson replied: "Yeah, plenty of times. I found out I've got depression…but I think the depression was something I've had even from a younger age. It sort of hid the depression, but there was a lot of times where you would go back to your room, you're away from family and you start to dwell on things.

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