LONDON - Jonathan Trott vowed to stay as "relaxed as possible" after being handed arguably the most daunting set of circumstances possible in which to make his England Test debut.
LONDON - Jonathan Trott vowed to stay as "relaxed as possible" after being handed arguably the most daunting set of circumstances possible in which to make his England Test debut.
The South Africa born batsman was named Sunday in England's 14-man squad for next week's must-win Ashes Test against Australia at the Oval and national selector Geoff Miller confirmed that, late injury permitting, Trott would play in place of the dropped Ravi Bopara.
Essex batsman Bopara managed just one and nought during England's innings and 80 run fourth Test defeat at Headingley, a result that saw Australia level the five-match Ashes series at 1-1 with the Oval finale, which starts on Thursday, to come.
Those scores compounded a poor series for Bopara who, batting at number three, has managed just 107 runs in seven innings against Australia at a meagre average of 15.
England, with Kevin Pietersen out of the series following the second Test because of an Achilles injury, decided they had to do something to stiffen the top-order and so selected Trott, for their squad at Headingley but left out of the final XI. "I'm chuffed as hell really. I've been playing pretty well this season so hope I can play well this week," Trott told BBC Radio on Sunday.
"I'm pretty much going to try and stay as relaxed as possible. I'd like to think that under pressure I perform - we'll see this week," added Trott, whose only previous experience of senior international cricket saw him score 11 runs in two back-to-back T20s against the West Indies at the Oval in 2007.
Trott played for South Africa Under-19s and qualified for England on the basis of parentage.
Trott, who is set to bat at number four with Warwickshire colleague Ian Bell promoted to three, said he would be inspired by the memory of England's Ashes series win four years ago.
"I've been thinking about my call-up this morning and going back to 2005 when England won the series. I remember thinking back then what a great chance it would be to be involved - and now I've got my chance."
Ricky Ponting's men need only a draw to hold onto the Ashes after whitewashing England 5-0 on Australian soil in 2006/07.
- AFP
cool jonathan
LONDON - Jonathan Trott vowed to stay as "relaxed as possible" after being handed arguably the most daunting set of circumstances possible in which to make his England Test debut.
LONDON - Jonathan Trott vowed to stay as "relaxed as possible" after being handed arguably the most daunting set of circumstances possible in which to make his England Test debut.
The South Africa born batsman was named Sunday in England's 14-man squad for next week's must-win Ashes Test against Australia at the Oval and national selector Geoff Miller confirmed that, late injury permitting, Trott would play in place of the dropped Ravi Bopara.
Essex batsman Bopara managed just one and nought during England's innings and 80 run fourth Test defeat at Headingley, a result that saw Australia level the five-match Ashes series at 1-1 with the Oval finale, which starts on Thursday, to come.
Those scores compounded a poor series for Bopara who, batting at number three, has managed just 107 runs in seven innings against Australia at a meagre average of 15.
England, with Kevin Pietersen out of the series following the second Test because of an Achilles injury, decided they had to do something to stiffen the top-order and so selected Trott, for their squad at Headingley but left out of the final XI. "I'm chuffed as hell really. I've been playing pretty well this season so hope I can play well this week," Trott told BBC Radio on Sunday.
"I'm pretty much going to try and stay as relaxed as possible. I'd like to think that under pressure I perform - we'll see this week," added Trott, whose only previous experience of senior international cricket saw him score 11 runs in two back-to-back T20s against the West Indies at the Oval in 2007.
Trott played for South Africa Under-19s and qualified for England on the basis of parentage.
Trott, who is set to bat at number four with Warwickshire colleague Ian Bell promoted to three, said he would be inspired by the memory of England's Ashes series win four years ago.
"I've been thinking about my call-up this morning and going back to 2005 when England won the series. I remember thinking back then what a great chance it would be to be involved - and now I've got my chance."
Ricky Ponting's men need only a draw to hold onto the Ashes after whitewashing England 5-0 on Australian soil in 2006/07.
- AFP
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