Jonathan Trott

The South African-born English cricketer, Jonathan Trott is a former English top-order batsman who was a lynchpin in the English batting lineup for most of his career and transformed into a batsman, England could rely on.

Trott stormed into the English domestic setup after emigrating from South Africa with a knock of 134 for Warwickshire against Sussex on debut. However, he will be remembered for his century on Test debut, which occurred during the fifth and final Test against Australia in the 2009 Ashes. The ton played a major role in England’s victory in the match, as well as their 2-1 series.

A mainstay at the number three position, Trott was a talisman in the team mainly due to his perfect mix of technique and temperament. He went on to achieve flying colours in the coming years, especially during the 2010-2011 Ashes where he scored 449 runs in seven innings at an average of 89.

Nonetheless, Trott was a victim of mental illness and fatigue during the ill-fated 2013-14 Ashes, which led to his premature departure from the series. The impact of the mental illness was such that it kept him out of international cricket for more than a year. Trott made a comeback a year later for the series against West Indies but could manage only 72 runs in six innings, including three ducks. There were several reasons behind the failure in the series, whether it was his selection as opener alongside skipper Alastair Cook despite his being a specialist at the number three position. 

Failing to cope with the pressure that the selectors exerted on him in order to save his spot in the national side, Trott's mental problems ultimately meant that his career ended abruptly. At the age of 39, Trott ultimately retired from all forms of cricket in 2018.

(As of May 2021)