Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lashed out at Jonathan Trott, saying he has disrespected everyone suffering from mental illness.
Trott admitted last weekend that he had left England’s Ashes tour of Australia suffering from “burn out”, not from depression.
When Trott quit what turned out to be a 5-0 Ashes thrashing by Australia after twice falling cheaply to fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, England officials said he was suffering from a “stress-related illness”.
This was taken to mean South Africa-born batsman Trott was suffering from problems beyond the usual cares of international cricket.
However, Trott told Sky that wasn’t the case, and he doesn’t want people to think he’s a “nutcase”.
That prompted Vaughan, England captain from 2003-2008, to write in his column in Monday’s Daily Telegraph: “I feel a little bit conned we were told Jonathan Trott’s problems in Australia were a stress-related illness he had suffered for years.
“We were allowed to believe he was struggling with a serious mental health issue and treated him with sensitivity and sympathy.
“He was obviously not in a great place but he was struggling for cricketing reasons and not mental, and there is a massive difference.
“There is a danger we are starting to use stress-related illness and depression too quickly as tags for players under pressure,” Vaughan added.
In his interview with Sky, Trott said he feared the public thinking he was a “nutcase”, adding that he wasn’t “crazy”.
However, Vaughan wrote Trott had “completely disrespected anybody who has gone through depression and mental illness by using words such as ‘nutcase’ or ‘crazy’.
“I find it staggering he is so ill-informed that he used those words,” Vaughan insisted.
“I have friends who have been diagnosed with depression. They are not nutcases or crazy. They have picked up an illness that is invisible to others but can be debilitating.
“We have seen other England cricketers suffer from depression,” said Vaughan, whose former Test colleague Marcus Trescothick had his international career cut short by a stress-related illness.
“I do not think Trott realises just how important an issue it is.”
Trott scored just 19 runs in two innings in the first Test at Brisbane and struggled against the bowling of Australian spearhead Mitchell Johnson.
His performance in Brisbane was labelled “poor and weak” by Australian batsman David Warner, who was later criticised for his insensitivity by mental health groups and accused of being “disrespectful” by England captain Alastair Cook.
Vaughan’s judgment was arguably even more severe, the Yorkshireman writing: “What Trott will have to accept is that players in his own dressing room and in the opposition will look at him and think at the toughest of times he did a runner.
“He admitted that the previous occasion he suffered burnout was in South Africa in 2009/10, the only other time he has faced top-quality fast bowling.”
Magic Sponge
Guest
At least Trott is famous for setting a precedent. Has what he and Swan done happened before. Is KP too blame? Is this the new age professional sportsman when a players ego is more important than the teams desire to fight and try to win or at least sticking it out with his mates and do what is necessary for king and country.
Australian Rules
Guest
Agreed - on both fronts!
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
I think we all agree re your comments on Davey. He really should be kept away from the media. Re the ECB, maybe that was an early sign of desperation, AR. Who knows what goes on with all the political shenanigans...
Australian Rules
Guest
The first part - is whether Warner's comments were silly, imprudent, brash, injudicious, whatever. Given it's Warner, we can probably safely say "YES!" to all of the above. The second part - is whether the ECB were wrong in allowing Warner's comments to be extrapolated into something far greater (and different) than what they were actually intended ... that is, a nasty dig at someone who was(n't) suffering from a diagnosable mental condition. The ECB didn't just allow the bogus tut-tutting to happen, they actively continued that narrative - which to me, is very very poor. That's my 2 bob.
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
Hi AR. I believe Warner said "The way that Trotty got out today was pretty poor and weak." So, you're right in that he didn't say Trott was weak himself. However, I think Steve Waugh's point is still valid in that players shouldn't be targeting opposition players off the field and I think it's pretty clear that that was what Warner was trying to do. That shows a lack of respect. Warner later said, "I made those comments for a reason...It is Ashes cricket - probably went a little bit too far with the comments." Make of that what you will. Interestingly, even Shane Warne said that he thought that Warner was "a bit silly" for questioning Trott's courage against hostile fast bowling. I know some Roarers genuinely think England's batsmen were afraid to face MJ, but I honestly think it's ridiculous to believe that a professional batsman would be afraid to face a fast bowler with all the skill, experience and padding they possess.
jameswm
Guest
Why the silence anyway?
Australian Rules
Guest
Actually APIO, I think Steve Waugh also got it wrong. Warner didn't get personal. He called Trott's shot (not Trott himself) "weak". I agree it was a weak shot. The way that the ECB allowed Warner to get pilloried by the media, all under the guise that Trott was specifically battling with a longterm stress disorder (when they knew he wasn't), is pretty outrageous by the ECB.
Rob na Champassak
Roar Guru
Why would Trott be a nutcase? He clearly doesn't have any nuts.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
True Warner was being a boofhead generally and the timing of his comments were before anything came out about the Trott situation. My comments above were regarding the tabloids and commenters on this site and others feeling vindicated ridiculing Trott when it was apparent he had some form of mental illness.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Ah the silence is broken Red Kev.
Another Pom in Oz
Guest
No, you're wrong, jameswm. This has nothing to do with whether Trott had a condition or not. As Steve Waugh stated, after Warner said Trott got out to a pretty poor and weak shot, "I think Dave Warner's comments were out of order. I don't believe you should comment on someone else personally on the opposition. He can make a generic comment, but I think when you get personal like that, you cross the line on how players treat each other, and the respect they should have." Yes, it's as simple as that. Treat the opposition players with respect off the field. Is that too much to ask for?
jameswm
Guest
Huh? Warner didn't have a go at anyone with a mental illness. He said Trotty played a weak shot. Well, he did. Warner copped a lot of flack for that. Sure he can be a boofhead, but he is owed a big apology by a lot of people.
TheTruth
Guest
I agree but Warner's comments were made before Trott's "condition" was known.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
I don't think you can justify anyone having a go at someone for having a mental illness, when at the time that's what every one thought he had. I don't know who this amorphous "PC Brigade" is, but a big problem with mental illness is the longer it remains untreated the worse it gets, the bigger the cost for the individual, their family and friends and generally society too. When mental illness is stigmatised so publicly then it can make it much harder for people who feel they may need some help to seek it. So SS what's so important about making fun of mental illness that we need to stand up for that? Your personal entertainment?
Chui
Guest
The so called PC brigade having a go at others criticisms of Trott was based on the impression that he was suffering a serious mental illness. If you think any criticism of TTrott at the time was OK, you are still deluded. Don't get all smug about it now. A good thing you're not holding your breath.
Red Kev
Guest
Vindication is mine! To all the self-important care-bears that decried me for calling Trott out...I await your very humble apologies (I'm not holding my breath). Okay, I'm done posting again.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
The media owe Dave Warner and the Aussies an apology now for the way they carried on after Trott quit. Any criticism of Trott was met with the PC brigade in full force. I hasten to add many here with their PC answers can finally have a go at Trott without worrying about the precious whiners
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I'd imagine a lot of fans are feeling that way too. I'm not sure Trott's interview helped his cause that much.