CRICKET : Jonathan Trott insists he has no regrets for choosing to play for England over the country of his birth, South Africa.
Jonathan Trott insists he has no regrets for choosing to play for England over the country of his birth, South Africa.
Much has been made of the Cape Town-born batsman returning to his former homeland in the colours of his adopted country, with the 28-year-old, one of four in the squad – along with captain Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior – with South African links and all expected to be handed hostile receptions.
“I’m not bothered by the comments about me coming back here,” he said. “I don’t have any animosity about it. I have seen some comments from their players saying I had made a decision at a young age to represent England and they seem to respect that.”
He added: “I can’t change the way people think, I can just come here and respect my team-mates and the English and South African public.”
Trott marked his first appearance on the two-and-a-half-month tour by hitting 85 to help secure a massive 185-run victory in the opening tour match against the Diamond Eagles in Bloemfontein.
Trott, who has represented South Africa at junior level as well as playing for domestic side Boland, confirmed there were no negative sentiments received from Friday’s opponents at the OUTsurance Oval.
He continued: “I didn’t hear anything from the crowd. (There were) no comments out there. I have played against a few of them before in county cricket and it was all right.”
Reflecting on his own performance, which earned him the man-of-the-match award, Trott was predictably pleased despite falling 15 runs short of the three-figure mark.
He added: “It would have been nice to get a hundred but it was just good to get in the middle again, it’s like learning to drive again, you pick up the bat and get back in the mode after a few weeks off.
“I don’t think it’s a typical South African wicket, it is a bit on the slow and low side which is quite surprising but it was nice to get in and get in the mode of playing again.”
