England batsman Jonathan Trott on Monday announced his retirement from international cricket following his poor showing with the bat in the recently-concluded Test series against the West Indies.
The veteran right-hander managed just 59 runs in the three-match series, which finished in a 1-1 draw after West Indies won the third and final Test by five wickets in Barbados.
Trott, 34, admitted that he found it tough to settle down on his comeback to international cricket. He had returned home in the middle of the 2013-14 Ashes tour 18 months ago citing a stress-related illness as England were whitewashed 5-0 by hosts Australia.
"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. 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," he said.
South-Africa born Trott played 52 Tests, 68 ODIs and seven T20s in an international career that began in 2007. He made his Test debut during in Ashes in 2009 and made an immediate impact scoring the first of his nine Test centuries.
He pointed out that he would continue to play for his English county side Warwickshire.
"I've had incredible highs and some real lows in an England shirt but wouldn’t change a thing. I look forward to continuing my career at Warwickshire and hopefully helping us win more silverware."
Trott went on to become a vital part of a Test side that won an Ashes series away from home for the first time in 24 years, reached number one in the world and won a Test series in India for the first time in 27 years. The Warwickshire batsman was also the lynchpin of England’s ODI team, helping the side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Image: Jonathan Trott.
Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
