Cricket

[Urethra Franklin]

Bell is arguably our best batsman (formwise), got two very good balls in Brisbane. Genuine number 3 for me at the moment. Aussies know what he can do to them. I want to keep Root away from the new ball, he's a good batsman but seems a little overawed on his first Ashes tour.

[Shaggy]

I agree. Tough call, both make sense to some degree, but I'd go Bell at 3 and keep Root where he is. Want Finn in for Tremlett, but as for who replaces Trott....no idea. All three - Ballance, Bairstow and Stokes - have stuff in their favour. Plenty of options.

[Alex]

I was reading today that Bell is our most technically sound batsmen. So having him in at Number 3 is a must. I have to say I agree now after hearing all the arguments.

Root needs to be out of the way and just left to get on with his own game. The Aussies seem scared of Bell. So I guess he is the answer. Its a strange occurrence that we have 4 specialist openers in the side. Cook, Carberry, Root and Bell can all do it. Root is questionable at Test level though I guess.

[Harv]

I would have liked to see your lots reaction to, lets say Phil Hughes, leaving the England tour the other month because of stress. You'd have been laughing your ****ing cocks off at our next great hope cracking under pressure. All of you.

[Shaggy]

LOL. As if. Total BS. Trott hasn't "cracked under the pressure" anyway. He's ill. As if any of us would be laughing at anyone with a mental illness.

[Alex]

Yeah, no. I dont think we would be laughing.

Mental illness is just that. An illness. We have seen it in the past in this country with Trescothick. It can be debilitating, it was with him. It effectively ended his career for England.

[Shaggy]

Sure did.

It's emerged that Trott has had to manage this ever since he came into the side. Also appears that it's nothing to do with the intensity with which he plays...i.e. it's not really cricket related. You'd have to be a complete and utter bonehead to laugh at someone who is mentally ill.

[Harv]

I haven't got up to speed with the past couple of days events, but thats the first ive seen on "mental illness". Ive seen numerous reports on stress related leave though. Could just be the local slant though.

If it is mental illness then obviously all the best to him. Hope he sorts himself out and gets back to be an absolute ******* to get out (against every other side other than us of course )

[Alex]

Didn't Michael Yardy suffer similar? Left a tour recently and never really came back?

[Harv]

Sure did.

It's emerged that Trott has had to manage this ever since he came into the side. Also appears that it's nothing to do with the intensity with which he plays...i.e. it's not really cricket related. You'd have to be a complete and utter bonehead to laugh at someone who is mentally ill.

I'd hope you're not insinuating that that be me. Ive had my issues in the past and im very sympathetic to mental illness, and im fully aware of the awful situation you're in (i hope things are getting better btw)

[Shaggy]

I haven't got up to speed with the past couple of days events, but thats the first ive seen on "mental illness". Ive seen numerous reports on stress related leave though. Could just be the local slant though.

If it is mental illness then obviously all the best to him. Hope he sorts himself out and gets back to be an absolute ******* to get out (against every other side other than us of course )

It's not as if he can't handle the pressure. You could see in his batting, especially 2nd innings, that he was completely gone. Head had completely gone. Michael Vaughan said at the time, without knowing he had a condition and was struggling to control it, "Trott's head is clearly not right, that is one of the worst innings I've ever seen".

They haven't spelled out what the problem is specifically but it's under the depression/stress/anxiety umbrella, that he's managed it the whole time he's been in the England set up (since 2009) but is now at a stage where he isn't managing/controlling it, the pressure of the tour is just exacerbating an already tough condition.

[Shaggy]

Didn't Michael Yardy suffer similar? Left a tour recently and never really came back?

Yep. He came back to play county cricket though.

I'd hope you're not insinuating that that be me. Ive had my issues in the past and im very sympathetic to mental illness, and im fully aware of the awful situation you're in (i hope things are getting better btw)

No man - of course not - I know you've had your problems. I meant in terms of you saying we'd all be laughing if the boot was on the other foot, and that none of us here are the total bonehead you'd need to be to find it amusing.

[Harv]

I wouldnt put general stress anywhere near those other two fwiw. Its not even in the same ball park. Obviously anxiety is in itself a form of stress, but its totally different. If you know what i mean.

[Shaggy]

I wouldnt put general stress anywhere near those other two fwiw. Its not even in the same ball park. Obviously anxiety is in itself a form of stress, but its totally different. If you know what i mean.

Yep totally agree - everyone feels general stress at some point or other. It's not the same, at all.

Trescothick last night talked about how it was for him - that every time he got out (during the height of his problems, just before he left the Ashes tour) he'd be dying to cry as he walked off and managed to hold it in until he got into the pavilion. Then burst into tears. Said he'd suffer horrendous anxiety and horrible, intrusive thoughts when he was alone in his hotel room, would lie awake staring at the ceiling all night, those long, horrible nights, crying etc. Then he'd get up and go and bat at the WACA or wherever. An absolute nightmare. If Trott's going through anything like the same then he did well to even get out into the middle.

[Harv]

Yep. He came back to play county cricket though.



No man - of course not - I know you've had your problems. I meant in terms of you saying we'd all be laughing if the boot was on the other foot, and that none of us here are the total bonehead you'd need to be to find it amusing.

I should make clear i made that comment thinking he's left due to "stress" and not a long standing mental condition which youve brought me up to speed on. Im still sure if Hughes or Warner or any other of our lot you guys hate had just cracked under the pressure you'd be having a wee giggle.