Marcus Trescothick is a supremely gifted cricketer from England who was the first in the international game to speak out about struggles with depression. Having returned early from two high profile tours due to a ‘stress-related illness’, and having tried and failed a number of times to conquer his issues in an effort to prolong his international career, he finally realised that the cure to his illness was to turn his back on England.

At an early age, Trescothick was showing signs of incredible cricketing talent, and his single-minded devotion to the sport was such that it was easy to plot a glittering cricketing career even from such a young age. However, at the age of 11, Trescothick endured an experience that would become all too familiar in years to come, when away on a coaching clinic 45 minutes from home, he suffered gut-wrenching sadness until his return.

Trescothick played cricket for the county Somerset, where he rewrote the record books as an opening batsman, scoring runs for fun, and loving playing the game he loved so much. Playing cricket in England, even whilst away on county duty – caused him little anxiety, and playing for England during home series was a source of tremendous happiness.

The pinnacle of his playing career came when he helped England to a sensational Ashes victory over Australia in 2005, but the lowest point came a number of years later at an airport shortly before departing for a low-level pre-season tour to Dubai with his County. Team management discovered Trescothick slumped in the corner of an electronics store, crying uncontrollably.

After years of battling ‘the black winged bastard’, the player who had scored 14 Test centuries in 76 Tests, and who boasted an average of 43, discovered that his illness was in fact his cure, and turned his back on international cricket.