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Alastair Cook uncertain whether Jonathan Trott will handle Test return Alastair Cook uncertain whether Jonathan Trott will handle Test return
(about 5 hours later)
Alastair Cook admits England will not know for sure if Jonathan Trott is mentally ready to return to international cricket until he is exposed once again to the tough environment of a Test match.Alastair Cook admits England will not know for sure if Jonathan Trott is mentally ready to return to international cricket until he is exposed once again to the tough environment of a Test match.
Trott is expected to play on Monday when England take on a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI in a two-day match at Warner Park. It will be a significant step for the 33-year-old, who is taking part in his first full England tour since his early return home from the 2013-14 Ashes with a stress-related condition, and is expected to open with Cook at the top of England’s batting order for the three-Test series against West Indies, which starts in Antigua on Monday week.Trott is expected to play on Monday when England take on a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI in a two-day match at Warner Park. It will be a significant step for the 33-year-old, who is taking part in his first full England tour since his early return home from the 2013-14 Ashes with a stress-related condition, and is expected to open with Cook at the top of England’s batting order for the three-Test series against West Indies, which starts in Antigua on Monday week.
Related: Alastair Cook accepts only a series win will suffice against West Indies
Asked if he was confident Trott was mentally ready for that role, Cook said: “I am. You don’t know 100% until he’s put out in the environment – that is always unknown. There’s a lot of things about selection that are unknown until you’re put into the pressure cooker of international cricket and make no mistake, it’s a high-intensity environment – there’s no doubt about that.”Asked if he was confident Trott was mentally ready for that role, Cook said: “I am. You don’t know 100% until he’s put out in the environment – that is always unknown. There’s a lot of things about selection that are unknown until you’re put into the pressure cooker of international cricket and make no mistake, it’s a high-intensity environment – there’s no doubt about that.”
The Warwickshire batsman’s last England appearance came in the first‑Test defeat by Australia in Brisbane in November 2013. But he has fought his way back into contention through sheer weight of runs in county cricket last summer and an impressive tour of South Africa with the England Lions this winter. Trott partnered Cook during England’s first training session of the tour at Warner Park on Saturday, the pair spending the majority of the team’s middle practice batting together.The Warwickshire batsman’s last England appearance came in the first‑Test defeat by Australia in Brisbane in November 2013. But he has fought his way back into contention through sheer weight of runs in county cricket last summer and an impressive tour of South Africa with the England Lions this winter. Trott partnered Cook during England’s first training session of the tour at Warner Park on Saturday, the pair spending the majority of the team’s middle practice batting together.
“He was in a bad place in Brisbane,” said Cook, “and at the time I would have been surprised that he’d come back but it’s a huge credit to the work he’s done off the field and the effort he’s put in. That obviously shows his desire to come back to play for England.“He was in a bad place in Brisbane,” said Cook, “and at the time I would have been surprised that he’d come back but it’s a huge credit to the work he’s done off the field and the effort he’s put in. That obviously shows his desire to come back to play for England.
“What we do know is he’s a quality player. You don’t have his stats and that weight of runs behind you without being a quality player. Trotty’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He feels confident in him himself and he’s just looking forward to taking that next step.”“What we do know is he’s a quality player. You don’t have his stats and that weight of runs behind you without being a quality player. Trotty’s done everything we’ve asked of him. He feels confident in him himself and he’s just looking forward to taking that next step.”
Cook was effusive in his praise for the character shown by a man who he regards not only as a team-mate but a friend. The pair were integral to England’s success under the former coach Andy Flower, with Trott named the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year when the team were top of the world Test rankings in 2011. “On a personal level to see him back in an England shirt from where he was in Brisbane in 2013 after the effort he has put in – a lot off the field as well as on it – is great,” said Cook.Cook was effusive in his praise for the character shown by a man who he regards not only as a team-mate but a friend. The pair were integral to England’s success under the former coach Andy Flower, with Trott named the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year when the team were top of the world Test rankings in 2011. “On a personal level to see him back in an England shirt from where he was in Brisbane in 2013 after the effort he has put in – a lot off the field as well as on it – is great,” said Cook.
“His record is fantastic and when he came into the England side we scored a lot of runs.“He has almost demanded selection and it’s great for me to see him back in an England shirt. He’s a great guy and if he gets his chance he’ll be desperate to do well. It would be his 50th Test as well which is a great achievement if he gets there.”“His record is fantastic and when he came into the England side we scored a lot of runs.“He has almost demanded selection and it’s great for me to see him back in an England shirt. He’s a great guy and if he gets his chance he’ll be desperate to do well. It would be his 50th Test as well which is a great achievement if he gets there.”