HOT TO TROTT??

Before the start of the test series with Pakistan, the feeling amongst many cricket fans (excluding Warwickshire supporters) was that Jonathon Trott was England’s most vulnerable batsman. After all, as has been the case since the end of the glorious summer of 2009, the focus of English cricket has been on the impending Ashes series. With the selectors clearly showing their hand, with regards to their liking for Eoin Morgan, the question has been which six batsman England will go with. With a poor series in South Africa and with an ambivalent 200 against Bangladesh (yes, I admire his resolve of staying at the crease for numerous hours but honestly, was I the only one bored by his insistent trench digging? And while I know you can only ‘play what’s in front of you’, a sunny day, flat wicket and miserly opposition hardly makes it the best innings in the world), Trott’s position at number three (that dreaded place in the English batting line up!) looked precarious. That was until the clouds came over, the bowling got a lot spicier and batting actually became more difficult.

As all around faltered, Jonathon Trott looked England’s most assured batsman - sound both technically and temperamentally. I was thoroughly impressed and demand that he be England’s number three come the 25th November. However, in the one day format, I’m less than convinced. While he scored a solid 69 yesterday, I’m not sure if he posses the ability to shift gears. This is something which the new superman, Morgan, does superbly - he comes to the crease, has a look, takes a few singles, then up’s the tempo. Trott, on the other hand, seems content to be the accumulator. Remaining steadfast as he lets others around him take all the risks. Having an ‘anchor batsman’s’ fine, yet in given situations Trott needs to be able to adapt. Take yesterday for instance. Collingwood, who has of late been somewhat out of form, came to the crease. Considering this fact, Trott (who has been in sublime form) should have tired to maintain the tempo and taken it to the batsman, thus allowing Collingwood to play himself in - yet he didn’t.

Perhaps its fair to say that at times Trott can be a little selfish. This may be a result of the fact that he gets so in the ‘zone’ and absorbed in his own game. While this makes him a quality test player, does it limit his ability in the shorter format??