I was mentally and physically ruined: Maxwell

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell said being constantly on ro for past "four to five years" h mentally and physically ruined him, forcing him to take a mental health break in October.

Maxwell h opted out of Australia's T20I series against Sri Lanka after playing first two matches to dress his mental health.

"I was pretty cooked when I decided to take time off. Big reason why I did take that time away is I was pretty mentally and physically ruined," Maxwell was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"I think it was eight months on ro, living out of a suitcase and that probably h been going on for four or five years, just constantly on ro and it all just caught up with me at that time.

"I really want to thank Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and Stars for giving me that and allowing me to have that time away from game and get myself right."

Maxwell said it was his girlfriend, who first ticed change in him.

"It was actually my partner who suggested I speak to someone, she was first one who ticed it, so I should probably thank her as well. Once I h that initial conversation it was a big weight off my shoulders," he said.

"My girlfriend was probably . 1, it wasn't an easy job for her to deal with me going through my mood swings for first few weeks, but Michael Lloyd was guy I h initial conversation with, he's been someone who I've confided in since back in acemy days, so I've kwn him for well over a dece w."

On a comeback trail w, 31-year-old will make his domestic cricket return, captaining Melbourne Stars in ir opening Big Bash match later this month.

"It probably took a bit longer than I thought it was going to take, it was an interesting six weeks, away from game and re was probably times I thought I was going to come back earlier," Maxwell said.

"I've been getting back in swing of things for a while, I've been around Vics change rooms for last two or three weeks w, so I've sort of been floating around and watching a few of one dayers and just trying to get back into change room atmosphere again.

"Once I got back into club cricket, cycle started to feel a bit more rmal again and I feel like I'm back at home. Coming back here with Stars feels like home again, a new coach, a bit of familiarity as an ex-player, but it's a great change room to be a part of, it's very welcoming."

Maxwell said he will try to man his playing commitments better and also be more careful of his self-expectations in remainder of his career.

"I did put a bit of pressure on myself to try and play as much as I could this year and, rightly or wrongly, I didn't come out of it way I thought I was going to. I'll have a look at that next year," Maxwell said.

"A holiday was actually spending time at home. I spent as much time at home as I could with friends and family. I tried to stay fit, and I still watched a fair bit of cricket over that time, but pretty exciting to get going w.

"I look at it a little bit differently, a little bit more respect for taking care of myself in all aspects of game and t losing sight of taking care of myself in those times where you're in a hotel room pretty constantly and being able to have that time to myself and refresh," he ded.