Cross on mental struggles after World Championship triumph: 'I have to admit I had some very low moments last year'

He said that for him he felt like a zombie most of the time and the problems came from being away from family so much. Cross added that for him he felt thrust into the spotlight which was one of the main problems with the World Championship win. He revealed: "I have to admit I had some very low moments last year. It was so surreal at times, like it wasn't happening to me. "I was a zombie for most of the year and when I wasn't losing matches, it got me down. My kids had lost the dad they knew and loved as I was away from my family so much and I was in a bad place. "I can't even say I was depressed or what I was at all. I just was not myself and it was quite scary at times. "I'm not afraid to say this but I was a novice World Champion. I was suddenly thrust into the spotlight and had so much expectation. "You have to remember I’ve still only being doing this for a couple of years professionally. I’m still so inexperienced compared to the top boys like Michael, Gary and Peter. They have been around for years. "That's not a problem at all, that’s something I have to learn and deal with and I will. But last year was too much too soon and it rocked my whole life. "I don’t think I was ready to quit but I knew I was very unhappy and this was not how I wanted my life to be like. "Thankfully I've got great people around me who helped me get back on the right way of thinking. They gave me space to work out what I needed to do to be happy again.''