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Jonathan Trott took a wicket on his return to first class cricket on Sunday

Jonathan Trott
Image: Jonathan Trott had a bowl on his return to action at Edgbaston

Warwickshire and England batsman Jonathan Trott returned to first class cricket on Sunday after a break from the game due to the recurrence of anxiety issues.

A veteran of 49 Tests, with an impressive average of 46.95 to his name, Trott had to leave last winter’s Ashes tour after the first Test when he began suffering from the anxiety issues

He attempted to return in April but the issue re-surfaced and he announced that he would take an “indefinite break” from cricket.

He returned at Edgbaston on Sunday for the first day of a County Championship Division One match with Nottinghamshire but did not bat as the visitors reached 397-7.

However, he did bowl five overs of his occasional medium pace, having Phil Jaques caught behind by Tim Ambrose for 77 and finishing with 1-27.

Support

When someone returns to work after a period of mental ill-health, thought should be given about how best to support them through the process
Paul Farmer

And the chief executive of a leading mental health charity says Trott will now need to receive a lot of help and support as he continues his career.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said: "When someone returns to work after a period of mental ill-health, thought should be given about how best to support them through the process.

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"People can recover from mental health problems but, even if someone becomes unwell again, they can still make a full contribution at work with the right support.

"The most important thing is keeping lines of communication open so that the person can be honest about how they are coping and whether they need additional support.

"Colleagues can play a huge role in supporting somebody's return to work, but often people don't know what to say or how best to help.

"Treating the situation in the same way as you would a physical health problem is a good start - they shouldn't be afraid to ask how someone is doing and say how good it is to see them back at work."

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