Jonathan Trott in England Lions squad for South Africa
- Published
Jonathan Trott has received his first international call-up since the batsman left England's Ashes tour with a "stress-related illness" in November.
Warwickshire's Trott was named in a 14-man England Lions party for their January tour of South Africa.
The 33-year-old came back to cricket at the start of the season, ending the summer with 628 first-class runs.
"I am like everyone else playing county cricket in that I have aspirations to play for England," he told BBC Sport.
"I remember going on previous Lions trips in 2007 and 2008 and having to do my time on those and prove myself. That is something that I need to do again."
Trott scored 3,763 runs in 49 Tests before leaving Australia after the first Test in Brisbane.
Having started the season with Warwickshire, his county campaign was interrupted when he took another break from the game in April.
But he returned to the Bears side in May, and believes that he has benefitted from sessions with psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, who has worked with the Great Britain cycling team, Liverpool Football Club and snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew |
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"This is a significant step towards Trott resuming his international career. He is 33 and England are looking to build for the future, but there's always room for experience. |
"With so much Test cricket, including the Ashes, over the 12 months, a full recall is not impossible." |
Read Jonathan Agnew's column on Trott's comeback |
Listen to a clip from Pat Murphy's exclusive interview with Jonathan Trott online with more on Tuesday's 5 live Sport from 19:00 GMT. |
"He said I had a 'situational anxiety'. It is pretty common with regard to everyday life, but when played out in front of the world media and press it is quite a big thing," added Trott.
"It was an eye-opener working with Steve. It has been a huge change for me, a great understanding of where I was and where I need to get to.
"Cricket is cruel and kind to you at the same time. It is a game you definitely love, but sometimes you question why you do it. I have found myself in a situation where I am enjoying it again."
The tour sees the Lions - formerly the England A team - play two four-day games and five one-dayers against South Africa A, with Trott only included in the 14-man party for the first-class matches.
"Jonathan Trott's exceptional form and run scoring exploits for Warwickshire at the end of the summer has resulted in his selection for the first-class fixtures at the beginning of the tour," said national selector James Whitaker.
"Congratulations to him and to all of the players selected."
South Africa-born Trott initially spent four months out of cricket after his exit from Australia, during which time he clarified that his departure was down to being "emotionally and mentally spent".
On returning, the right-hander was part of the Warwickshire squad for less a month before a recurrence of his anxiety issues forced him to take another month-long break.
Who is Dr Steve Peters? |
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He has degrees in mathematics, medicine and medical education (Masters level). Also postgraduate qualifications in sports medicine, education & psychiatry. |
He has helped sports stars including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Steven Gerrard, Craig Bellamy, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton. |
He has also assisted the GB Olympic cycling team, Team Sky, England's rugby union side and Liverpool FC. |
Hoy said "without Steve I don't think I could have brought home triple gold from Beijing" while Pendleton said he was "the most important person" in her career. |
However, his second comeback has been sustained, with Trott scoring three hundreds in nine first-class matches. He particularly impressed in 50-over cricket, averaging 54.22 as Warwickshire reached the final of the One-Day Cup.
Joining Trott in the squad for the first-class matches is Middlesex opener Sam Robson, who played in all seven of England's Test matches this summer but failed to impress sufficiently to earn a central contract.
He is likely to be competing with Yorkshire pair Adam Lyth and Alex Lees, also both included, and Nottinghamshire's Alex Hales for a place in the Test side for the tour of West Indies in April.
Lyth and Lees are two of seven Yorkshire players named, alongside Gary Ballance - Trott's replacement as England's Test number three - who was overlooked for England's one-day tour of Sri Lanka in November and December.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Kent off-spinner Adam Riley also have the opportunity to stake their claims for a place on the tour of the Caribbean.
The Lions squads are both provisional and will be finalised in December, following the announcement of the England squad for the World Cup, which takes place in Australia and New Zealand in February and March.
Provisional England Lions first-class squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Sam Billings, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Adam Riley, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, James Vince.
Riley, Robson and Trott replaced by Stephen Parry, Samit Patel and Jason Roy in the provisional one-day squad.
Trott timeline |
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Aug 2009 - Scores a century on debut in the fifth and deciding Ashes Test against Australia |
May 2010 - Makes 226 against Bangladesh at Lord's, his highest Test score |
2010-11 - Scores 445 run as England win Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years |
Sep 2011 - Named ICC cricketer of the year |
2013 - Part of the England side that retains the Ashes, his third series win over Australia |
Nov 2013 - Leaves Australia after first Test defeat, with England going on to lose 5-0 |
May 2014 - Makes second comeback after initial return lasted less than a month |
Oct 2014 - Handed first international call-up in a year with inclusion in England Lions squad |
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