England batsman Jonathan Trott will return home from the Ashes tour of Australia due to a stress-related illness.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced Trott was leaving the campaign and would “take no further part in the tour”.
The ECB said on its Twitter page that Trott’s return to cricket “will be determined in due course”.
“I don’t feel it’s right that I’m playing knowing that I’m not 100 per cent and I cannot currently operate at the level I have done in the past,” said Trott, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2009 at The Oval.
“I want to wish my teammates all the very best for the remainder of the tour.
“My priority now is to take a break from cricket so that I can focus on my recovery.”
Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said Trott needed time, support and space to recover.
“The cricket side of things is unimportant now,” Morris said.
“We fully support his decision to leave the tour and the ECB will provide all the assistance we can to help Jonathan and his family through this period.
“Jonathan has asked for privacy while he recovers and I would urge everyone to respect that.”
No.3 batsman Trott was twice dismissed by Mitchell Johnson in the opening Test of the series, which was comfortably won by the hosts in Brisbane.
Australia opener David Warner lashed Trott for the method of his dismissal on day three, when he flicked a short ball from Johnson to deep square leg.
“The way Trotty got out today was pretty poor and pretty weak, obviously there’s a weakness there at the moment and we’re probably on top of it,” Warner said on Saturday.
England captain Alastair Cook was unimpressed by Warner.
“I think the comment last night by David Warner was pretty disrespectful to any professional cricketer really,” Cook said on Sunday.
There is no indication that Warner’s comments impacted on Trott’s departure from Australia.
Former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who departed the 2006-07 Ashes tour after two weeks in Australia due to stress problems, expressed sympathy for Trott.
“Sad news, hope trotty is ok,” Trescothick posted on his Twitter account.
