Jonathan Trott has announced his retirement from international cricket following the series against West Indies but will continue to play domestically for Warwickshire. He struggled in his new position as opener, making just 72 runs in six innings of which five were single-figure scores, after his return from a stress-related illness.
His 52-Test career ended with innings of 0 and 9 in Barbados, bounced out in the first by Shannon Gabriel and lbw to Jerome Taylor in the second, and it was during the match that debate around his future started to swirl again, although it is understood Trott had decided during the preceding Test in Grenada that he would retire.
“This was a tough decision to make but I don’t feel my game is at the level you need to be at to play for England,” Trott said. “I was honoured to be given the opportunity to come back and play international cricket again and I’m disappointed it didn’t work out. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me and given me the chance to represent England and to thank supporters for all their backing over the years. I also want to wish the lads all the very best for what will be an incredibly exciting summer.
The West Indies series marked his recall to England colours following a 16-month absence after he left the 2013-14 Ashes tour following the Brisbane Test due to his illness. His first attempt at a first-class comeback was aborted at the start of the 2014 domestic season, but later in the summer he returned successfully for Warwickshire and finished in strong form as he averaged 47.69 in the County Championship with three hundreds.
He was selected for the England Lions tour of South Africa where he made an unbeaten 211 in the first four-day match against South Africa A in Paarl. That secured him a spot on the West Indies tour where he was preferred as Alastair Cook’s opening partner ahead of Adam Lyth despite only previously opening once in his Test career.
This West Indies series did not start well with a double failure in Antigua but he battled to a half-century in Grenada, forming England’s first century opening stand since March 2013, although he again failed in the second innings when he dragged on against Gabriel.
Gabriel was the man who bounced out Trott on the opening morning in Barbados, although by then his mind was made up about the future. After being dismissed in the second innings he gave a little wave to the England supporters as he walked off.
Trott’s overall figures Test figures took a hit as he struggled against Australia in the back-to-back Ashes and then in the series against West Indies, but he still finished with the impressive average of 44.08 – although that once stood above 50. His ODI career, which he was never likely to add to again even if his Test comeback had been a success, did finish above 50 – 51.25 from 68 matches – although his limited-overs performances often polarised opinion with his scoring rate under scrutiny. In 2011 he was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year.
The highlights of his international career included a century on debut against Australia, at The Oval, in 2009 which helped win back the Ashes and his tally of 445 runs at 89.00 in the 2010-11 series down under, when England retained the urn, which included his 329-run stand with Cook in Brisbane. His highest Test score of 226 came against Bangladesh, at Lord’s, in 2010 and in that same year he scored 184 against Pakistan, again at Lord’s, during a world-record eighth-wicket stand of 332 with Stuart Broad.
He made a second double hundred against Sri Lanka, at Cardiff, in 2011 and the last of his nine Test hundreds was against New Zealand, in Wellington, on the 2012-13 tour. Since then he had passed fifty just five times in 24 innings.
The highest of his four ODI hundreds was 137 against Australia at Sydney in 2011 and he was part of the team which reached the final of the 2013 Champions Trophy where they lost to India at Edgbaston.
“I’ve had incredible highs and some real lows in an England shirt but wouldn’t change a thing,” Trott said. “I look forward to continuing my career at Warwickshire and hopefully helping us win more silverware.”
Cook added: “It has been an absolute honour to play alongside Trotty in every one of his 52 Tests. He can be incredibly proud of all he has achieved in his career and it is no coincidence that his time in international cricket has seen the team achieve some very special things often with Trotty at the heart of our success on and off the field.
“To come back from events around the Brisbane Test in 2013 and earn a place back in this side is testament to his character and spirit and although things didn’t work out as we all hoped on this current tour, he gave absolutely everything to the three lions every time he wore the cap.
“I speak on behalf of this current team and all those who have shared a dressing room with him over the years when I say it was a privilege to play alongside him. He’ll be sorely missed by all in England cricket and our supporters will thank him for some incredible memories. Trotty has a huge amount to offer English cricket and we wish him all the very best as he continues his career with Warwickshire.”
IPL player auction – New faces and where they cou... February 17th, 2017
Kohli unveiled as Wisden cover star February 3rd, 2017