My priority is to focus on my recovery: Trott

England batsman exits Ashes tour due to stress illness


Afp November 25, 2013
UNNERVED: England batsman Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour of Australia due to a ‘stress-related illness’, said the England and Wales Cricket Board. PHOTO: AFP

SYDNEY: England's Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour of Australia with a ‘stress-related illness’, said officials 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 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," said an ECB tweet.

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%,” he said. “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."

Clarke fined by ICC over 'sledging'

Australian captain Michael Clarke was Monday fined 20% of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after warning England's James Anderson to expect a broken arm.

The final day of the first Test against arch-rivals England in Brisbane, which Australia won by 381 runs, boiled over on Sunday with constant ‘sledging’ (insults).

He was reported by umpire Kumar Dharmasena and the ICC said Clarke breached its code of conduct, which relates to "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an international match".

Clarke admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, avoiding the need for a formal hearing, the ICC said.

The second Test starts in Adelaide on December 5.

COMMENTS (2)

Mirza | 10 years ago | Reply

Can Pakistani batsmen take this as an example and not continue to be included in the team despite their regular failures?

NinjaTweets.com | 10 years ago | Reply

"I don't feel it is right that I'm playing knowing I'm not 100%" - Trott

This the professional behavior not emotional behavior. Some of our cricketers should learn from him.

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