T20 World Cup: Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott relishing challenge of taking on England
- Planet Sport writer
- 21 October 2022
Jonathan Trott will find himself in the unusual position of being in the opposing dressing room to England as Afghanistan head coach at the T20 World Cup in Perth on Saturday.
Trott had a distinguished playing career with England, featuring in 52 Tests and 68 ODIs between 2009 and 2015, establishing a reputation as a reliable and obdurate batter in the difficult number three role.
Since his playing retirement he fulfilled a number of backroom roles with England, including as batting consultant, but elected to take the top coaching job with Afghanistan in July.
Asked whether it will be a strange feeling to face England as they take on Afghanistan in both sides' World Cup opener, the 41-year-old said: "Yeah of course it is.
"But I think it's exciting in a way, and I think it's something to be proud of as well, the players and the other coaching staff who have come from English cricket.
"I think getting out of a safe environment is great as a coach. This is what I want to do and I'm very passionate about."
Trott, who revealed his contract runs until the end of the year, played with or coached a number of England's current squad but was sceptical that he can offer some inside information.
He said: "Nowadays with the way that analysts, analysing games with regards to technology and that sort of stuff, I don't think there's much you can say that isn't available."
While England, Australia and New Zealand will be vying for two semi-final spots in their Super 12s group, Trott insisted Afghanistan are capable of springing one or two surprises.
Trott added: "We haven't come here to make up the numbers, the players certainly don't feel like that or think like that, we certainly don't train like that. That's our goal: to do as well as we can.
"I think to sit here and put a number of wins would be unrealistic. The goal is to play consistently good cricket, be competitive for all 40 overs of the game and make sure we do that really well."
