Sydney: England’s Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour of Australia with a “stress-related illness”, officials said on Monday, after he was targeted during their huge defeat in a spiteful first Test.
The shock departure, which echoes a situation involving Marcus Trescothick in 2006-2007, comes after Trott made disappointing scores of 10 and nine in the game in Brisbane which England lost by 381 runs.
Trott’s play was blasted as “poor and weak” by Australia’s David Warner during a bad-tempered game, which also saw home captain Michael Clarke fined for warning tail-end batsman James Anderson to “get ready for a broken f***ing arm”.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Trott, 32, would take an indefinite break from cricket and would not be returning to the five-Test tour.
“Jonathan Trott has returned from England’s current tour of Australia with a stress-related illness,” an ECB tweet said.
“Trott will take a break from cricket for the foreseeable future and will take no further part in the tour… Trott’s return to cricket will be determined in due course.”
Trott has been a stalwart of the England team, accumulating 3,763 runs at an average of 46.45 in his 49 Tests, but he was dismissed tamely in both innings by fiery paceman Mitchell Johnson.
In brief comments released by the ECB, Trott did not give any details but said he could not play on in his current condition.
“I don’t feel it’s right that I’m playing knowing that I’m not 100 percent. I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past,” he said.
“My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery.”
Former England opener Trescothick, who left the 2006-2007 Ashes tour and was finally forced to quit international cricket because of depression, called it “sad news”.
“I suffer from depression and it is a horrible, lonely place… the man needs help and support… he is very brave,” tweeted Trescothick.
Trott’s departure adds to dramatic fall-out from the first Test.
Warner admitted he “probably went a little bit too far” with his comments which suggested Trott and other England batsmen were scared by the fast bowling.
The remarks were slammed as “disrespectful” by England skipper Alastair Cook.
“I made those comments for a reason,” Warner told reporters at Brisbane airport. “Look, yesterday, the bounce and pace got to them again.
“It is Ashes cricket. Probably went a little bit too far with the comments, but it’s cricket and now it’s in the back of their mind.”
England coach Andy Flower said Trott’s decision was not directly related to Warner, adding that he had been suffering the condition for some time.
But he also criticised the outspoken Warner.
“We’ve been on tour for a month and he (Trott) has had his ups and downs and it is not directly related,” Flower said of Warner’s insults.
“I will also say that players commenting about fellow professionals in the media is disrespectful and on this occasion he (Warner) has got that horribly wrong.” (AFP)