Cricket: Cook says Trott still has a future

Jonathan Trott. Photo / Getty Images

Alastair Cook says there may be a way back into the England side for Jonathan Trott, after the batsman's sudden departure from the Ashes tour in Australia with a stress-related illness.

"He and we all understand that he has a long journey back but I don't see any reason why he couldn't play for England again," said Cook. "It was horrible seeing what he has gone through and I wish him all the luck in the world in coming back.

"On the last few weeks of this tour and throughout his career he has struggled at certain times. I think he showed a huge amount of character to have performed as he has done for England."

Trott has not spoken publicly since his return to England. Apart from feeling some guilt at the nature of his return, he is said to feel uncomfortable being placed under the umbrella of depression.

According to his former captain Andrew Strauss, in his column for the Sunday Times, Trott exhibited all the signs of burnout, having been more or less on the road for England, minus a one-day series in India, for the past four years.

Andy Flower, the team director, revealed that Trott has been managing an anxiety condition for some time and doing so well enough to average around 50 in both test and one-day cricket, an impressive feat.

But there appears to be a pattern to events that drives his anxiety to worrying levels - and that is the prospect of facing fast bowlers on quick pitches.

All batsmen would experience anxiety in such circumstances: it is just that Trott's coping strategies appear to be less effective than others when under duress. A long break should help bring perspective as well as rejuvenating his will to succeed at international level.

"I think it is important we give him some time and space away from cricket, away from the pressure of playing international matches," said Cook. "Then we can see how he comes back. He's a class player and we all know that so we'd love to have him back. He's got to make sure he's ready and we mustn't put any time pressure on him."

Cook, although given the odd one-day series off and absent from the T20 side for the past four years, has been going non-stop in tests and on tour for the past seven years. Everyone copes differently to stress but Cook seems more grounded than most in a profession that invites obsession and self-analysis.

Hugh Morris, the outgoing managing director of England cricket, has the power to influence the fixture list, being a link between the players and the board, but there seems to be no appetite for reducing the amount of cricket played, given that lucrative broadcast deals are attached to it.

"There's no getting away from the fact that the international programme is incredibly busy," said Morris. "We all know that."