England's Jonathan Trott retires from international cricket

LondonEngland batsman Jonathan Trott announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday Trott struggled on his return to the Test arena during Englands 11 drawn series with the West Indies in the Caribbean concluded Sunday managing just 72 runs in six innings including three ducksThis was a tough decision to make but I dont feel my game is at the level you need to be at to play for England said Trott in an England and Wales Cricket Board statementI was honoured to be given the opportunity to come back and play international cricket again and Im disappointed it didnt 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 summerThe 34yearold Trott who intends to continue his county career with Warwickshire added Ive had incredible highs and some real lows in an England shirt but wouldnt change a thing I look forward to continuing my career at Warwickshire and hopefully helping us win more silverwareThe West Indies series saw Trott recalled by England for the first time since his premature exit from the 201314 Ashes series in Australia following the first Test in Brisbane with what team officials later said was situational anxietyEngland captain Alastair Cook paying tribute to Trott said It has been an absolute honour to play alongside Trotty in every one of his 52 Tests He can be incredibly proud of all he has achieved in his career and it is no coincidence that his time in international cricket has seen the team achieve some very special things often with Trotty at the heart of our success on and off the field Character and spirit Cook added To come back from events around the Brisbane Test in 2013 and earn a place back in this side is testament to his character and spirit and although things didnt work out as we all hoped on this current tour he gave absolutely everything to the Three Lions every time he wore the cap Following Trotts exit from the Australia tour where he struggled against the short ball and the pace of leftarm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in particular England lost the Ashes 50Australia batsman David Warner accused Trott of being poor and weak for the way in which he was dismissed by Johnson in the second innings at Brisbanes Gabba ground comments for which he apologised when details of the England batsmans condition were made public Trott took some time out from cricket before forcing his way back into the England setup through sheer weight of runs for Warwickshire and the secondstring England LionsAt his best Trott who played 52 Tests 68 ODIs and seven T20s in his eightyear international career was a reassuring presence at the crease Indeed the South Africaborn batsman made nine Test hundreds starting with a century on debut against Australia at The Oval in the 2009 Ashes and went on to make 3835 Test runs at an average of 4408But there was surprise among a number of pundits when Trott usually a number three batsman was given the job of opening alongside Cook in the West Indies even though Englands squad contained a specialist albeit uncapped opener in Yorkshires Adam Lyth It proved an unsuccessful experiment with Trotts old problems against the short ball highlighted when he was out for a duck in the first innings of the third and final Test in Barbados fending at a bouncer from fast bowler Shannon GabrielHis retirement means England will have to make at least one change for their next Test against New Zealand at Lords starting on May 21