A sad end to an illustrious career

At his first Test at Old Trafford in 2001, we hurried down the pavilion steps together for the first time as England openers. I had asked him if he wanted to face first ball or not, as I usually did with my new opening partners. He shrugged his shoulders and said he wasn't bothered, as if he had not a care in the world. Things must have seemed so simple for him then.Seven years and a thousand hotel rooms, plane journeys and practice sessions later the world is a more complicated place.

The stress-related illness that was diagnosed has relented but never disappeared. A few days ago, he reached the airport in order to travel on Somerset's pre-season tour to Dubai. The old sensations invaded his thoughts again. He went home.