Why can't C++ deduce template type from assignment?

Question

int x = fromString(\"test\") :could not deduce template argument for \'ValueType\'

int x = fromString(\"test\") : works

Answer 1

C++ doesn't do type inference on the return value. I.e., the fact that it is being assigned to an int isn't used in template parameter deduction.

(Removed edit, since someone else presented the overloaded cast solution already.)