Trott to get 24-hour access to psychological help on England return

England batsman Jonathan Trott would reportedly be nursed through his comeback to the national squad with 24-hour access to psychological help on tour if required.

Ashes refugee Trott would restart his international career this winter with England's reserve squad in South Africa. His return coincides with the onset of a ludicrous schedule in which England have been booked to play 17 Tests in nine months.

The Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) are so concerned about the workload, and its inherent risks of tipping more star players' mental health over the edge, that they have asked Lord's to keep a full-time psychologist on tour, even if there are cuts to England's bloated backroom staff, The Mirror reported.

PCA chief executive Angus Porter refused to discuss Trott's case notes. But with Marcus Trescothick evacuated from India in March 2006, and again from Australia eight months later, with a stress-related illness, and Michael Yardy flown home from the World Cup three years ago with symptoms of depression, Porter warned more players could buckle under England's relentless programme.

He said that it now becomes a question of trying to manage the workload and they have been working with the ECB management on a number of steps to protect players from stress, burnout and to identify the warning signs.

Porter said that paring down the staff is probably the right way to go, but personally he is keen to keep the support for players' mental health on tour as high as possible.

Trott flew home from last winter's Ashes wipeout after the first Test in Brisbane, and he was forced to abort a short-lived comeback with Warwickshire in early summer. But he received treatment from leading sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters, whose stellar clients include Team GB's Olympic cyclists and Liverpool's title contenders last season, the report added.