It is November 2013. Brisbane. An ashen-faced Andy Flower, England’s team director, and Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, sit in a basement room of the Sofitel hotel. They are explaining the reasons why Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes tour after only one Test.
Such was the gravity of the news both men had held a half-an-hour off-the-record briefing with journalists before going public with the news. A “stress-related condition” had been the trigger for Trott’s departure, we were told. This was, many months later, diagnosed as situational anxiety by the renowned sports psychologist Steve Peters.
Back then it was hard to believe Trott would ever return to international cricket. But in terms of England he has outlasted both of the men tasked with explaining the darkest moment of his career. Flower moved on to the National Performance Centre at Loughborough and Morris is the chief executive of Glamorgan.
Now, 17 months on from his last Test at the Gabba, Trott is preparing to face West Indies in Antigua on Monday, when he is expected to be named as the England captain Alastair Cook’s opening partner in what will be his 50th Test.
It will complete a remarkable and heart-warming recovery that even the 33-year-old, who has made an irresistible case for an England recall through sheer weight of runs with Warwickshire and the England Lions, thought might not come again.
“To be brutally honest I didn’t know if I’d be able to come back here,” said Trott. “I didn’t know if I was going to be selected but I had to get my head down and push my case forward and that’s all I could do. I’m really glad.
“I’ve been tested on and off the field and had to go through the ringer to get here. So, yes I feel really confident I can cope and do really well.”
Asked to reflect on his state of mind 17 months ago, Trott replied: “It wasn’t so much Brisbane it was more of a lead-up to it. The whole months leading up to it, even in England, were really tough and Brisbane was the culmination, a breaking point if you like.
“You hope it’s something you will never have to go through but it makes you a stronger person. It was a real challenge to be here but the challenge starts now.”
That earlier challenge involved overcoming a mindset where cricket was all-encompassing. “It just started building and I couldn’t see the wood from the trees,” added Trott. “You get into a situation where the expectations are almost inhuman.”
An aborted comeback with Warwickshire last April led him to Peters’ door and, finally, a proper diagnosis – of situational anxiety. “I did a bit of stuff with a psychologist when I got home, I thought it was just a case of burnout,” he said. “Then I went back and I still had the same problems. So I had to seek advice elsewhere and luckily Steve and I have a good relationship.”
Trott denied his selection for this tour was a gamble but did admit: “Whenever you select someone there’s an element of risk on whether they’re ready. But I feel great and it feels pretty similar to when I first got selected so it’s really exciting.”
Antigua will be the first of 17 Tests in nine months for England. Trott, though, is looking forward to earning a 50th cap rather than fretting over the gruelling schedule ahead. “It’s been a little bit frustrating being stuck on 49 all that time but I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and helped be part of so hopefully to get a 50th cap would be great,” he said.
As for the prospect of the Australians in this summer’s Ashes, Trott has a simple answer when asked if he has any qualms about facing them again. “No, I’ve faced them before,” he replied with a reassuring smile.
