5 Ashes heroes who committed suicide in later life

Albert Trott

Albert Trott, a brilliant all-rounder during his heyday

One of those quiz questions which bamboozles even seasoned cricket quizzers: which Australian batsman holds the record for the highest batting average against England in Test matches?

The answer is NOT Sir Donald Bradman. It is Albert Trott, the only man known to have cleared the Lord's pavilion. Or, if you follow cricket historian David Frith, 'Albatrott'. He averaged 102.5 for Australia against England. It was boosted by the fact that he was unbeaten in both innings in his first Test match and scored 110 runs. In that very Test match, he took 8-43 in England's second innings- still the best bowling figures in an innings on debut. Arguably, Trott's is the best debut in Test cricket's rich history.

Trott was a brilliant fielder as well. He was always prepared to dive around in the outfield, almost 100 years before Jonty Rhodes and co. made it famous.

After appearing in three Test matches for Australia in the famous 1894-95 Ashes series, he moved out of Australia and settled in England. He even represented England in Test matches and served Middlesex with distinction.

In 1899 and 1900 he was easily the best all-round cricketer in the world .In both seasons he took over 200 wickets and scored over 1000 runs. But he could not repeat such successes in the seasons that followed and the weight of expectations proved to be too heavy for him. He struggled for a few seasons and played his final first-class match in 1910.

His life became quite miserable after he had left playing the game. The limelight he enjoyed was gone too soon and all at once. Trott started suffering from depression (not the only Trott to have that misfortune). The death of his father back in Australia in late 1913 added to the agony.

In 1914 he was in and out of hospital with a heart condition and nephralgia. In late July that year, unable to bear the depression and sleeplessness, he requested his landlady to bring him a sleeping draught. The chemist didn't allow it, and upon hearing that from the landlady, Trott screamed out: " Oh dear, I can never go through another night."

At 2'o clock that afternoon, he pulled the trigger and shot himself through the head. Thus ended the tragic life of one of the finest pre-World War I allrounders.

Recommended reading: Over and Out: Albert Trott: The Man who Cleared the Lord's Pavilion by Steve Neal