Feature: Players who have quit series' mid-way

Tags: India tour of England, 2014, Matthew James Prior, Marcus Edward Trescothick, Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott, England

Published on: Jul 24, 2014

English wicket-keeper Matt Prior has become the latest casualty of the pressure of international cricket. He has decided to step down as the wicket-keeper

English wicket-keeper Matt Prior has become the latest casualty of the pressure of international cricket. He has decided to step down as the wicket-keeper batsman of the team following England's loss to India at Lord's. Prior attributed constant injury problems which, according to his own admission, have affected both his batting and his performance behind the stumps. While Prior has only managed one half -century in recent times, he has dropped key catches in almost every game he has featured in. His overall glovework has also been shoddy. As Prior endeavours to resurrect his career, we look at some other cricketers, who have quit tournaments mid-way for various reasons.


Jonathan Trott: Another England cricketer who succumbed to the travails of international cricket. Trott returned home from the Ashes in Australia last year following a prolonged struggle at the crease. In a repeat of the Marcus Trescothick saga, Trott attributed his troubles to stress-related illness. There were rumours that Trott's problems were more in the mind as he couldn't stand up to Mitchell Johnson's fiery bowling. David Warner even mocked him, terming Trott's dismissal poor and weak. However, the England management stuck by Trott. He hasn't played for England since.


Navjot Sidhu: Theformer India opener turned commentator infamously returned from India's tour of England back in 1996. For many years, it remained a mystery as to why Sherry abandoned the tour. It was only recently that the beans were spilled in a book. Apparently, then Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin welcomed Sidhu with a good morning every day, but was accompanied by a prefix which was actually an abuse. After hearing the words for a few days, Sidhu could not tolerate in any longer and returned home in a huff. During an investigation into the issue however Sidhu learnt that the word used by Azharuddin to Sidhu was actually a common manner of calling upon friends in Hyderabadi. The issue turned out to be rather laughable, but India seriously benefited as Sourav Ganguly got to make his Test debut!


Marcus Trescothick: Theformer English opener, who boasts of an impressive international record, had more than one bouts of stress-related illness during his career, which forced him to return from tours more than once. The first such instance was during England's tour to India in 2006. Trescothick suddenly decided to abandon the team and head back. Initially, there was a lot of suspense over why he left India, but later it was confirmed that he was suffering from stress-related illness. Trescothick tried to make a comeback during the 2006 Ashes in Australia, but the recurrence of his problem meant Trescothick had to fly back home once again.


Shane Watson: In a rather bizarre turn of events, the all-rounder stormed out of Australia's tour of India last year after being suspended for the third Test, along with a few others, as a punishment for failing to do his 'homework'. Watson was anyways going to head back to Australia after the third Test to be with his wife, who was due to deliver. However, with the suspension meaning he wouldn't figure in the third Test at all, he decided that staying back would be a waste of time. He immediately headed home, but not before making his disgust clear at the developments.


--By A Cricket Analyst

Related News