Trott has no regrets about his career

Cricket365
August 29, 2014

(Possibly former) England batsman Jonathan Trott says he has no regrets about the way his career has gone, and while he may not play for the national side again, he is enjoying his Warwickshire career.

Trott will soon have his 10-year benefit with the Birmingham side, and proceeds will go to the PCA Benevolent Fund to help players with depression and other mental concerns, which is the reason Trott had to leave the England side.

Trott returned home from the tour to Australia late last year, citing exhaustion, and then 'burn out' but has now taken to speaking about his issues, and hopes more players will look for help when they need it.

Trott said in the <i>Birmingham Post</i>: "There are similar cases (to mine) in cricket and that is why we have the PCA and that is why I am having the PCA Benevolent Fund as one of my charities. The fund is there to help people pick themselves up, it's a fantastic thing.

"I have spoken to a few players who have said they have gone through a similar phase in their lives and didn't tell anyone, I am talking about international cricketers.

"I have got no regrets about the way my career has gone. I do not know if I will ever play for England again – I was disappointed with the way it finished but I have certainly got a lot to be proud of.

"The two things for me is that I am happy to be back playing for Warwickshire and am feeling good and keen to continue to contribute to the team in the final few weeks of the season.

"It was a difficult time at the beginning of the year and the end of last year. To be honest, I was struggling for a long time before I said anything. It is another experience I hope to be able to help people learn from and be aware of.

"As a youngster, I was always battling it, the desperation to do well. I have always had this self-drive and passion to do well. I have still got the same determination and passion, but I am a bit more relaxed now, I play golf, the Xbox, I like travelling to Las Vegas and New York."

He then went on to say that he didn't plan on leaving Edgbaston until retirement, and that moving to Birmingham as a young man from South Africa was the best thing he could have done with his life.

He added: "When I first came to England, it was very, very tough. I was only 21. Living in Cape Town as a 19-year-old I was pretty comfortable, earning good money. Bob Woolmer came and said 'We want you to play for Warwickshire, you are good enough to play for England'.

"When you are 21, you do not know how your career is going to pan out. There are no guarantees. The benefit means I have played for Warwickshire for 10 years which I have enjoyed immensely, you know that you have played good cricket.

"I can look back at my career with Warwickshire and England, and there are no regrets in that regard.

"Warwickshire has a vast history, and history and success go hand in hand. There are a lot of other counties who are not spoken about as highly as Warwickshire.

"I have not put a timeframe on it (retirement). I will spend the rest of my career at Warwickshire. I am enjoying it at the moment."