5 cricketers whose late entry cost them legendary status

#3 Jonathan Trott

Trott was an important member of England’s successful side which won the Ashes

If not for stress and the impact Mitchell Johnson and his short-pitched stuff had on his career, Trott would still be playing. He is only 35 now and had made his debut at the age of 27. Trott’s career is a bad representation of the man’s talent and his importance to an English team that won back-to-back Ashes, including Australia in 2010 when he slammed an unbeaten 168* in the fourth Test at Melbourne.

He debuted like he always did, with big runs, scoring an Ashes century in the second innings for his team at the Oval. In all, the engine of the all-conquering England side accumulated 3835 runs in 52 Tests at 44.08 with 9 centuries and 19 half-centuries. The lynchpin of the order, walking in at No.3, Trott scored monster centuries - including two double-tons - all around the world.

Sadly, his career ended on a whimper when he returned after a 1.5-year hiatus for a series against West Indies, where he was mediocre at best. Anxiety claimed a great career after a late start (in the defence of the selectors, he did start late too), cost him a few years.