World now more understanding, aware of mental health: Jonathan Trott | Cricket News – Times of India
Former England batter talks about being sensitive, Bazball, T20 leagues, coaching Afghanistan and the 2012 series win in India
DUBAI: Jonathan Trott was the epitome of grit in the English batting line-up when the England Test team became world-beaters 15 years ago. When he pulled out of an Ashes tour in Australia due to stress-related illness, his case was seen in isolation.
His attempt to return to international cricket wasn’t easy after he dealt with issues related to his mental health. He is now with the vibrant Afghanistan team as the head coach and looks as fresh and exuberant as the Afghans are on the field in the Asia Cup.
TOI caught up with him for a quick chat during a practice session.
Excerpts from the interaction…
You were one of the early players who decided to step back from cricket due to mental health. Now, Virat Kohli has also spoken about it…
Everyone’s case is different. I don’t want to comment on any individual. One thing I would say is that the world is now more understanding and more aware of these things.
Do you think coming back from such breaks is easier now?
I don’t know. Ben Stokes has done so pretty well. I think you have to be sensitive about the individual. I don’t want to comment on anybody. I love to see players play cricket and that’s the goal.
How much do you focus on mental health as a coach?
I am just getting to know the guys here. I make sure I am not just talking about cricket. Being able to talk about your life off the field is just as important to prepare for life on the field.
What do you make of ‘Bazball’?
We see kids play a lot of T20 cricket now instead of declaration cricket. So, the nature of a player is to be more attacking. As regards to ‘Bazball’, I think it’s a little bit disrespectful or an easy thing to say ‘Bazball’. But the credit should go to the players who played really well in those chases for England. I know Rob Key doesn’t like the term Bazball.
Cricket is tough. It’s not a slogan. The credit the England team should get for winning a few days after losing at Lord’s against South Africa is much more than a slogan.
The challenges of coaching Afghanistan…
I am always fascinated by different upbringings and how the game is spoken about. They don’t have a history or role models. That’s going to be the case when you are a ‘new’ country. They are relatively new in terms of history of the game. They are new, especially to the longer format. That’s the target. There are a lot of opportunities for youngsters to come through and the players who are currently established continue to perform and build on the performances. It’s about bringing my experience about how I learnt the game by travelling across the world. I am trying to enhance the natural game of the Afghanistan side and work on areas in which they need improvement.
The significance of franchise cricket…
People want to represent their country. The leagues around the world have seen some success. I think there has to be a combination with the long format of the game and the history side of it. Then there’s the money side to it. Going to play in every Test playing country is a spectacle for players. Maybe not for the viewers but we have to look after the players’ interest. ODIs are falling behind but T20 and Test cricketers have emerged through that format. Players have to take responsibility for the amount of cricket they want to play.
No visiting Test team has been able to challenge India in India since you toured in 2012…
In India, at the moment, you have seen that if you batted first, you win the game. I was the batting coach last time England toured India. In Chennai, they won the toss and won the game. Winning the toss should not be that important. I agree the home team should take advantage of the conditions. Next time, when they travel to India they know what to expect. I learnt so much going to spin camps in Mumbai and learnt things that perhaps are not taught in Australia and England. In that series in 2012, when the pitch was turning in Mumbai, the best innings that I ever saw was by KP and that partnership between him and Alastair Cook turned the game in our favour. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann put the pressure back.
DUBAI: Jonathan Trott was the epitome of grit in the English batting line-up when the England Test team became world-beaters 15 years ago. When he pulled out of an Ashes tour in Australia due to stress-related illness, his case was seen in isolation.
His attempt to return to international cricket wasn’t easy after he dealt with issues related to his mental health. He is now with the vibrant Afghanistan team as the head coach and looks as fresh and exuberant as the Afghans are on the field in the Asia Cup.
TOI caught up with him for a quick chat during a practice session.
Excerpts from the interaction…
You were one of the early players who decided to step back from cricket due to mental health. Now, Virat Kohli has also spoken about it…
Everyone’s case is different. I don’t want to comment on any individual. One thing I would say is that the world is now more understanding and more aware of these things.
Do you think coming back from such breaks is easier now?
I don’t know. Ben Stokes has done so pretty well. I think you have to be sensitive about the individual. I don’t want to comment on anybody. I love to see players play cricket and that’s the goal.
How much do you focus on mental health as a coach?
I am just getting to know the guys here. I make sure I am not just talking about cricket. Being able to talk about your life off the field is just as important to prepare for life on the field.
What do you make of ‘Bazball’?
We see kids play a lot of T20 cricket now instead of declaration cricket. So, the nature of a player is to be more attacking. As regards to ‘Bazball’, I think it’s a little bit disrespectful or an easy thing to say ‘Bazball’. But the credit should go to the players who played really well in those chases for England. I know Rob Key doesn’t like the term Bazball.
Cricket is tough. It’s not a slogan. The credit the England team should get for winning a few days after losing at Lord’s against South Africa is much more than a slogan.
The challenges of coaching Afghanistan…
I am always fascinated by different upbringings and how the game is spoken about. They don’t have a history or role models. That’s going to be the case when you are a ‘new’ country. They are relatively new in terms of history of the game. They are new, especially to the longer format. That’s the target. There are a lot of opportunities for youngsters to come through and the players who are currently established continue to perform and build on the performances. It’s about bringing my experience about how I learnt the game by travelling across the world. I am trying to enhance the natural game of the Afghanistan side and work on areas in which they need improvement.
The significance of franchise cricket…
People want to represent their country. The leagues around the world have seen some success. I think there has to be a combination with the long format of the game and the history side of it. Then there’s the money side to it. Going to play in every Test playing country is a spectacle for players. Maybe not for the viewers but we have to look after the players’ interest. ODIs are falling behind but T20 and Test cricketers have emerged through that format. Players have to take responsibility for the amount of cricket they want to play.
No visiting Test team has been able to challenge India in India since you toured in 2012…
In India, at the moment, you have seen that if you batted first, you win the game. I was the batting coach last time England toured India. In Chennai, they won the toss and won the game. Winning the toss should not be that important. I agree the home team should take advantage of the conditions. Next time, when they travel to India they know what to expect. I learnt so much going to spin camps in Mumbai and learnt things that perhaps are not taught in Australia and England. In that series in 2012, when the pitch was turning in Mumbai, the best innings that I ever saw was by KP and that partnership between him and Alastair Cook turned the game in our favour. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann put the pressure back.
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