Jonathan Trott has described Australia as circling "like hyenas round a dying zebra" as a frighteningly fast Mitchell Johnson terrorised him during the 2013-14 Ashes series.

The former England Test batsman also labelled Johnson as his "executioner" during the ill-fated tour when Australia emphatically regained the urn with a crushing 5-0 victory.

Trott entered the series with an excellent record against Australia but left the tour after the first Test in Brisbane, citing stress as the reason.

In his recently-released autobiography, Unguarded, Trott revealed Johnson's brutal short-ball barrage was the reason he returned home just weeks into the tour.

Trott was left mentally fragile after Johnson worked him over in the one-day series in England earlier in the year, and the 52-Test veteran conceded he was all at sea facing the speedster.

"I felt I was being led out to face the firing squad by the time we reached Brisbane," Trott wrote.

"I was a condemned man. Helpless, blindfolded and handcuffed. Mitchell Johnson was to be my executioner."

Trott added that the Australians knew he wasn't the same accomplished player who'd made a classy century on debut against the old foe at The Oval when England clinched the Ashes in 2009.

"And they know I'm struggling. They're circled like hyenas round a dying zebra," he wrote.

Johnson was easily the series' leading wicket-taker with 37 at an average of a touch under 14.

Trott said the left-arm quick's spells would often reduce him to tears before a match.

"I felt I was being questioned as a man. I felt my dignity was being stripped away with every short ball I ducked or parried. It was degrading. It was agony," he wrote about their battle in the 2013 ODI series in England, Trott's last in national colours.

Trott, who made a brief return to Test cricket in 2015 before retiring, said there were no ill-feelings towards Johnson, even though he essentially ended his career.

"One day, I'd like to shake him by the hand and say, 'Well bowled,'" he added.

"I don't bear him an ounce of resentment. Test cricket is meant to be hard and he was admirably ruthless."