CRICKET : Jonathan Trott is hoping his 87 at his first attempt as England opener will mean he is entrusted with the job permanently.
Jonathan Trott is hoping his 87 at his first attempt as England opener will mean he is entrusted with the job permanently.
South Africa-born Trott, this week back where he grew up in Cape Town as England bid to build on their 1-0 one-day international series lead over the hosts, is naturally hoping he can prove himself in front of what was once his home crowd. Come what may at Newlands on Friday, though, the Warwickshire batsman is setting his sights on an extended stay at the top of the order for England.
“I’ve told (coach) Andy (Flower) I’ll bat where it is needed or where it is best for the team,” he said, as he reflected on the runs he made at Centurion on Sunday when he and Paul Collingwood shared a stand of 162 on the way to seven-wicket win.
“If they see me as an opener, which I’ve done for Warwickshire for the last two seasons, then great.
“I like the position and enjoyed batting there – and hope I can do well again in the future, if called upon to be an opener.”
There has been conjecture, perhaps premature, that Trott may be pressed into doing the same job when the Test series starts back at Centurion next month.
That would become a possibility only if Alastair Cook fails to recover in time from his back injury – an eventuality as yet deemed unlikely by England’s management.
Either way, Trott is not about to get too far ahead of himself.
“I wouldn’t like to say I’m a Test opener,” he said.
“I haven’t really opened (in first-class cricket) in my life before – I’m a number four. I’ve always batted in the middle order, so I’ve never really seen myself as an opener. I’ve only played one Test match. But again, whatever they ask me to do I’m more than happy to do.”
