 Doctors observed that Trott continually stood in one place , showing little interest in events around him . A doctor noted on Trott 's file : " <unk> to converse not appearing to be able to follow what is said to him . Answers questions in monosyllables . Does not rouse up when subjects are spoken of that formerly he was interested in . " Attempting to reach him , doctors sent Trott to play cricket which he did in a , " mechanical , indifferent fashion " . In a departure from normal hospital procedure , he was allowed newspapers reporting the details of Darling 's Australian side in England ; this left him unmoved . Trott 's friend Ben Wardill , the secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club , visited in November 1899 but Trott did not recognise him . A fellow patient , when released , wrote of Trott : " Here is a well @-@ known cricketer , whom we once treated as a hero . But alas ! Like everything else , times have changed and he is almost forgotten . " 
