Jonathan Trott is one of England’s trusted middle-order batsmen who didn’t succeed in the Ahmedabad Test, falling to spin in both innings.
“When you come to India, you expect (wickets) to turn. We got caught in the first innings, good fightback in the second. I’m looking forward to playing in Mumbai, the heartbeat of Indian cricket.”
R. Ashwin dismissed him on zero in the first innings at Motera. Pragyan Ojha sent him back cheaply in the second (17) when England, following on, expected runs from its batsmen. Trott admitted that the team has not done justice to its pre-tour preparations.
Asked about the tourists’ extended struggle against slow bowlers on a slow track with low bounce, he said: “We knew India would be a tough opponent in home conditions. It’s an emphasis of trusting your game and producing results,” said Trott, singling out captain Alastair Cook’s showing.
Pakistan leg-spin ace Mushtaq Ahmed is part of the England team management as the spin bowling coach.
England arrived here after a training camp in the UAE, but evading the spin trap has not happened for the Englishmen in Sri Lanka, against Pakistan in the UAE and now India.
“We have players who can do that. We saw it with Cook. He doesn’t play like any of the Indian batsmen, but it works for him. We have players who can do that. There is no reason why we cannot, we have to put it together, put five good days together.”
Despite Trott’s brave words and efforts to justify his reputation in Tests (35 Tests averaging 48.96 runs), the doubts in his teammates’ minds facing spin remain.
