The effect of externally applied stresses of eg and t2g symmetry on the cubic Eg(X)eg Jahn-Teller (JT) system Y2+ in SrCl2 is studied. Coupling constants were obtained with the aid of EPR and by relying on a Ham-type cluster JT Hamiltonian, in conjunction with a random strain distribution. This is established from a critical review of the contributing strain sources (including possible percolation effects due to the isotopic composition of natural SrCl2). The stress of t2g symmetry shows strong effects. The authors conclude that the cubic Ham factor q is nearly one and that the experiments allow, as a function of this latter stress, one to pass gradually towards a trigonal JT effect. The optical absorption spectrum assigned to Y2+ is given in addition.