Dating Vouchers Auctions Bingo Lose Weight Franchising Mobile Recycle Shopping Book Shop Compare Broadband Wine Shop Legal Store FlatShare Cruises

JONATHAN TROTT HOPES FOR MORE ABUSE

Jonathan Trott hits out during an accomplished innings for England Centurion

Tuesday November 24,2009

By Colin Bateman

JONATHAN Trott does not attract a fraction of the abuse dished out to Kevin Pietersen by South Africa’s supporters – but that will all change if he carries on like this.

A highly accomplished opener’s innings of 87 by Trott in Sunday’s ODI victory was every bit as impressive as his century against Australia at the Brit Oval last August on his Test debut.

Whatever the challenge put in front of Trott so far in his embryonic international career, he has handled with great assurance. Having had to qualify for England after leaving his native South Africa in 2002, Trott, at 28, is a comparatively late starter at the top level, but already looks close to being the finished article.

His captain Andrew Strauss said: “He’s a very determined character, he loves batting and allied to that he has a very solid technique which is well suited to the international game.

“It is very early in his career and we don’t want to put too much pressure on him. He has shown he has great ability to play at this level, but we should not expect great things of him every time he walks out.”

The next time Trott does walk out will be on Friday at Newlands, the ground where his love of cricket was suckled.

His school, Rondebosch Boys High, is no more than 500 yards from the famous ground where, as an impressionable teenager, he sat on the benches under the oaks and watched half-brother Kenny Jackson and his cricket coach Peter Kirsten playing for Western Province.

“There was no TV cricket then so everyone would go to the game. I remember Western Province playing Gauteng, which was then Transvaal and the New Year three-day game would be packed out,” said Trott.

“Provincial cricket was all you had then because of the Apartheid era. My dad is a cricket coach and I grew up playing sport every minute. At the school it was compulsory to play a team sport from grade seven [age 12]. It was a strong competitive system and it has helped me a lot.

“After playing for seven years in county cricket, you always want to prove yourself as a player and get a century at Lord’s and, for me, there is the little added thing of wanting to get a century at Newlands.

“To play there with an England cap on will be exciting; it is something I shall relish.”

While Trott’s selection in an England shirt is seen as contentious by many at home, in South Africa his return has barely been mentioned.

At Centurion, it was Pietersen’s walk to the wicket that was greeted with a chorus of good-natured booing. Trott is expecting some reaction to his decision to turn his back on the country of his birth for whom he played up to Under-19 level, but so far it has not materialised.

“It was fine yesterday, but I’ve said I can’t control the public, all I can do is put in the performances to gain the respect of my team-mates and the South African and English public. If you let it get to you it will affect your game.”

Perhaps it is because Trott is the antithesis of Pietersen that his return has not aroused such emotions.

When KP first played here in an England shirt five years ago it was with expansive shots, strong comments about South African cricket and a skunk streak in his mop of hair.

Trott has little to say in public worthy of headlines, his shot-making is studied application and his barber has very little to occupy him. Married to Warwickshire’s press officer Abi Dollery, grand-daughter of former England player Tom Dollery, Trott says now he prefers Birmingham’s Canalside to Cape Town’s waterfront, Catshill to Table Mountain.

“A lot of people say because of the weather and the Cape Town lifestyle, ‘Are you going back there when you retire?’ But there’s no way I’d do that, I am very content in Birmingham.

“It’s nice to come back here and see some old friends but I’ll have to try to put any emotion to one side and try to see it is another match.

“And if we can go 2-0 up it will be a great start. I don’t want too much hype about me having grown up here, I just want another great performance from the team.”