Stress-related illness forces Jonathan Trott out of Ashes tour

But England say that Aussie Warner is not to blame after mocking batsman
25 November 2013

Jonathan Trott today flew home from the Ashes with a “stress-related illness” with England offering no indication about when he might be able to return to cricket.

England have been aware for some time of Trott’s condition, which he had been managing on this tour.

The batsman had a poor match as England were defeated in the First Test here, and he was mocked publicly by Australia’s David Warner, but the management insist the events at the Gabba alone had not convinced Trott that he should quit the tour. The decision is believed to have been made at the end of the third day in Brisbane.

Trott said: “I don’t feel it is right that I’m playing knowing that I’m not 100 per cent and I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past.

“My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery. I want to wish my team-mates all the very best for the remainder of the tour.”

The 32-year-old has played 49 Tests, scoring 3763 runs at an average of 46.45, after making a century on his debut to help England win the Ashes at The Oval in 2009. He was due to land at Heathrow today.

Asked whether he thought Trott would return to the international game, Flower expressed only cautious optimism.

He continued: “I’m fairly confident he can come back from this but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he didn’t. He can be very proud of everything he has done.

PA

“I’m very thankful that I have been coach while he’s been playing, not least because he’s been a brilliant No3 but also a great guy to spend time with. He’s also a strong man.

“Jonathan has had a very successful international batting career so far, and he has managed himself and his condition during that time. We had high hopes he would have a great tour. It has not worked out that way but we hope he will come back strong in the future. I have the utmost respect for him, as a man and as a cricketer. He needs time away from this environment, with his family, to reassess. This isn’t the type of environment for the type of rest and recuperation that he needs.”

Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy also returned home from England tours early, in both cases suffering from depression.

England were keen to make clear that Warner’s words had not influenced Trott however Flower did not hide his disgust at the Australian, who said Trott’s manner of dismissal in the second innings was “pretty poor and pretty weak”.

Flower added: “Players commenting about fellow professionals in the media is disrespectful and on this occasion he’s got that horribly wrong. We set different standards to that. Is it time players reined in ­[sledging]? There are standards of behaviour that individuals and teams set themselves. The competition should be intense, but we need good leaders who know where to draw the line, and they need to be good role models.”

Following Trott’s dismissal for nine on Saturday, Michael Vaughan tweeted: “As bad an innings as I’ve seen from an England No3.”

Today, the former England skipper tweeted: “I do feel guilty for criticising Trott this week. I wasn’t to know what he was going through and I can only comment on what I see.”

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