Jonathan Trott, a perfect number 3 batsmen for England
England has failed to produce a quality Number 3 batsman, form the last decade or so. They had some good players like David Gower, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Butcher-c48849. None of these batsmen were straight away number 3’s for England, but they were
made or forced to play at number 3.
David Gower has the best average at number 3 position for England, since 1970. He has played 35 Test matches at the one-down position, scoring 2619 runs at an average of almost 50 with 8 Test centuries.
Jonathan Trott can be a medicine for this headache. He can be the candidate for England’s best number3 batsman for thirty years. Trott has certainly shown the potential if this is the case. So far he has fared well. In his short term career he has made 1155
runs in 13 Test matches with a best of 226 at Lord’s against Bangladesh. At number 3 he is averaging 54 in 17 Test innings.
These are still early days for Trott. He has had a good start to his career. A century, on debut at The Oval, against the old enemies in the Ashes showed that he can handle the pressure at the international level, and he has a good technique to survive.
It was a cool, composed and calm innings.
His native country South Africa proved to be a bit of a struggle for Jonathan Trott. He only managed 190 runs in 7 innings with an average of 27, on the South African tour. A match saving 69 in the 2nd innings was not followed by a string a substantial
scores. He only managed to score 93 runs in the next 5 innings. This raised some questions marks about his ability to play on fast and bouncy tracks.
Bangladesh’s tour didn’t prove out to be a substantial one for Jonathan Trott. They proved to be a tough opposition for him. He only managed to score 136 runs in 2 Test matches at a modest average of 34. It was the best of his efforts against a depleted
Bangladesh attack.
These two tours of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 has raised questions about Jonathan Trott’s ability to play overseas. Most of his substantial scores have come at home. All three of his Test centuries have been in home conditions. A matter of the fact is that
all 3 of them have been match winning.
Trott has played 6 out his 13 Test matches away from home. He has only managed to score 326 runs at a mediocre average of 29. He has only 2 half centuries in these 6 matches.
He has fared well in home conditions. They seem to be his favourite. In 8 matches he has played at home. He has scored an amazing record. An amazing tally of 829 runs in 7 matches at a very impressive average of almost 83 is clear evidence of him being a
home bully.
The last Test between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 and England at Lord’s marked the composure of Trott. He scored a brilliant 184 in tough conditions and situation. He was under pressure, England was stuttering. Mohammad Amir really dug deep into England’s batting by taking
6 wickets. It was swinging for both Amir and Asif. Trott started his innings confidently, hitting some crisp cover drives. He used his feet against Mohammad Asif to negate his extravagant swing. His on-side play off his legs was immaculate. Stuart Broad joined
him when the score line was 102/7. A world record stand of 332 for the ninth wicket between the two, got England out of the woods.
He hasn’t done badly in ODIs. In 11 matches, he has played; he has scored 483 runs at an impressive average of 48 with a single century against Bangladesh. He hasn’t been an integral part of the ODI squads. Injuries to some of the key members have given
him opportunities.
It is early days, and it is to be seen how he performs against tougher opponents in their backyard. The tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 will reveal many things about him. He still remains an integral part of England’s Ashes campaign.
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