Jonathon Trott

 

 

Ashes 2013

 

Getting Nasty

 

November 25^th 2013

 

 

There is a particularly unpleasant undercurrent to this series and the news that Jonathon Trott, who was the target of some fairly nasty jibes and severely criticised even by many England fans, has had to return home with a “stress-related illness” has come as an unpleasant shock. There were conversations on the Internet this morning as to whether or not David Warner might not regret some of his comments in the light of developments – Trott has, apparently, been ill from some time and trying to battle through it – with the majority view being that Warner would not feel any guilt. To his credit, Warner, who seems to be getting into scrapes again and again, however hard he tries to stay out of trouble, has accepted that perhaps he went too far. The media have been careful to stress that Warner’s comments were not the reason why Trott went home – he was struggling long before – but one has to wonder how he felt to be taunted when fighting and losing to a crippling problem.

It is obvious that Alistair Cook was aware of the issues with his colleague and kept quiet. His comments in the press conference where he discussed the remarks suddenly take on a whole new significance.

What to make though of Michael Clarke being picking up by a stump microphone threatening Jimmy Anderson with a broken arm? Cricket Australia is furious, not with the comment, but that the broadcaster dared to let the public hear it. The defence is that, in a comment *not* picked up on the stump microphone, Jimmy Anderson threatened to punch debutant George Bailey. Shane Warne lauds Clarke’s action in standing up for his player. One wonders what the umpires are there for? Someone is going to end up getting seriously hurt unless they can keep order and both captains support them in stamping out thuggish behaviour. Aggression is one thing, threats of violence are another. There is a suspicion though that Australians love to hand out verbal abuse, but are less than happy to receive it back and, when on top, expect their observations to be received in silence.

There is no question that Australia feel that they were the victims last summer. The fuss over Stuart Broad’s cheating (how many Australians walk when they know that they have hit the ball?) The belief that DRS was loaded against them, the umpires were (intentionally or not) biased against Australia (some fans have accused one umpire of being openly “anti-Australia”), the sensation that the weather conspired against them, that they were deliberately denied meaningful practice and that marginal decisions systematically went against them, has led to a demand for revenge.

Many Australian fans genuinely believe that they were cheated out of a series victory – and they use the word “cheated” in its most pejorative sense. They feel that they have a blank cheque to right past wrongs and that their opponents have it coming. “Make him want to cry” was the call over Stuart Broad and there is no question that the fans have taken the call to heart: the atmosphere is more hostile than it has been in many years.

Stress in sport tends to be met with derision and the suggestion that the victim is a pampered little darling who cannot cope with little setbacks. Call it a nervous breakdown, because that is what it is really and maybe people would be more understanding. We treat soldiers suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder as heroes, why should sportsmen be treated as pariahs for cracking under stress? How many people would condemn a colleague at work who has a nervous breakdown as being unfit for purpose and unworthy of his job? When you have seen a colleague in this state, you tend to change your views and start to be more understanding.

Marcus Trescothick was the first high-profile player to break cover. It ended his international career: despite extensive help, he was unable to cope with touring again. The descriptions of his low points in the dressing room are distressing. Matthew Hoggard was later revealed to have been dropped from the England side for far more reason than just a single, bad Test, but not a word was said in public about the real reasons until he was ready to say it. Other players in the past have even taken their own lives in the end – Harold Gimblett was a classic case, it is not impossible that Peter Roebuck was another (his struggles against depression were chronicled by himself).

Hopefully Jonathon Trott will be back. The England set-up will give him the best help available but, history suggests that his chances of coming back are no better than 50-50. For now, we can just wish him well and hope that he gets over his immediate problems.