some good news

Trott is definitely making a return to first class cricket and will play cc this season

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/2/27/jonathan-trott-set-for-return-to-elite-cricket-and-back-into-england-squad

Indeed, it is very good news. I sincerely hope he gets his England place back before the Summer's end as too many people who should know better were overly keen to write him off.

Very good news, but let's be honest- England will be hesitant to pick him again for an overseas tour, after what happened with Trescothick and Yardy.

If it was mainly caused by burnout, then that should be as big a wake-up call as any to the ECB that they need to manage these players' schedules better. England play a ridiculous amount of cricket these days.

agreed...he is the sort of gutsy no frills player that England requires

Good news indeed, whatever happens from here on.

I'm not sure I'd agree with Trev that Tres and Yardy will necessarily be cautionary tales against selecting Leon for an overseas tour again.

Surely it depends on what the diagnosis is. And the prognosis.

I'm not sure the Black Dog of depression has been diagnosed in Trott's case. I understood it was thought to be "stress-related", awaiting further deliberation and detail.

While that problem might of course be unresolved, even unsolvable, it is perhaps not quite the same thing as the notoriously unpredictable and extremely difficult-to-manage affliction of depression. Which is why it's The Black Dog. It tracks you like a grim companion, may pad after you even when you thought you might be free of its shadow.

England's problems are bigger than what a healthy Trott might provide as aid by way of form.

I might have imagined this, but isn't he a recovering alcholic? I'm purely speculating but if he had a drink or 20 on tour then that would definitely be enough to send him home from a "stress related illness".

vilkrang wrote:I might have imagined this, but isn't he a recovering alcholic? I'm purely speculating but if he had a drink or 20 on tour then that would definitely be enough to send him home from a "stress related illness".

Didn't know that, but you are correct

It's all bullshit speculation because England are bullshitters. It's harmful to keep a secret whatever illness he has, it does the acceptance of mental health problems all the more difficult to the general public. Like it'll make his problem worse if it's out in the open. No, let's keep his 'dirty little secret' to ourselves. Like he's into fish porn or some such. Just another way in which the ECB are a shambles.

How did you know that about the fish porn?

Yep, good to see Leon looking to come back.

The fish porn might aid and abet his recovery - so more power to his gills and scales.

Brass Monkey wrote:It's all bullshit speculation because England are bullshitters. It's harmful to keep a secret whatever illness he has, it does the acceptance of mental health problems all the more difficult to the general public. Like it'll make his problem worse if it's out in the open. No, let's keep his 'dirty little secret' to ourselves. Like he's into fish porn or some such. Just another way in which the ECB are a shambles.

Everything's always "fine" until it's not, these days. Teams wont tell the media anything. Cricket Boards either. That's not just England. It's Australia and India as well.

Brass Monkey wrote:It's all bullshit speculation because England are bullshitters. It's harmful to keep a secret whatever illness he has, it does the acceptance of mental health problems all the more difficult to the general public. Like it'll make his problem worse if it's out in the open. No, let's keep his 'dirty little secret' to ourselves. Like he's into fish porn or some such. Just another way in which the ECB are a shambles.

I agree up to a point, but it's "his" illness - if he chooses to keep it secret, who are we to argue?

Privacy on these matters should be up to the individual...otherwise I agree with Danny...(just gave myself a cold hard look in the mirror)

While I'd like to see him back at the top of his game, they have to be careful about rushing things based on the immediate needs of the England team, as that could be counter-productive in more ways than one.

Let him find his county form again and make sure he's 100%, or as close to it as is possible, perhaps consider him for the India series if things go well, and deal with the touring issue when the time for that comes.

Absolutely. They have to check the diagnosis/prognosis - and also do the "look into his eyes" due diligence thingy - before he is remotely considered for England again.

The good news at this point that he is hopefully back up and running as a batsman - and a human being, if that doesn't sound too corny.

England will have to wait and see.