By Julian Guyer
England batsman Jonathan Trott Friday insisted the side's three remaining World Cup group matches, all against Test opposition, were "winnable" after their shock loss to Ireland.
Published: Mar 05, 2011, 11:35 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 05, 2011, 11:35 AM (IST)
England batsman Jonathan Trott plays a shot during the ICC World cup match against Ireland at The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on March 2. Trott insisted the side’s three remaining World Cup group matches, all against Test opposition, were “winnable” after their shock loss to Ireland.
By Julian Guyer
Chennai: Mar 5, 2011
England batsman Jonathan Trott Friday insisted the side’s three remaining World Cup group matches, all against Test opposition, were “winnable” after their shock loss to Ireland.
England, who face South Africa in Chennai on Sunday, went down by three wickets to the Irish in Bangalore this week as Kevin O’Brien struck the fastest-ever World Cup hundred in a blistering assault. That loss, together with a tie against India, has cast major doubts over England’s ability to qualify for the quarter-finals with matches still to come against Group B leaders South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies.
“We are in a World Cup, three (group) games to go. It’s not all doom and gloom,” said Trott, who top-scored with 92 in England’s 327 for eight against Ireland on Wednesday. “We’ve got three very winnable games ahead of us and a huge chance ahead of us to qualify for the quarter-finals,” he added.
South-African born Trott, who played at junior level for South Africa but followed his parents to England in 2002, was adamant England had the ability to beat Graeme Smith’s men. “They’re obviously a well-drilled side and with (leg-spinner) Imran Tahir now in the team they have a few more options in the spin department… but they are beatable.”
England have shown good form with the bat but have also been conceding a lot of runs. “We all realise the wickets are pretty good to bat on. They are very difficult conditions (for bowling) but I am fully confident they (England’s attack) are capable of performing and winning us games.”
Trott is one of several players in the squad who were also involved in England’s long tour of Australia but he insisted burn-out was not an issue. “We have got to remember it is a World Cup, and you might only come to one World Cup. I think it is very dangerous to think about how much cricket we have played in the last couple of months.”
Trott has enjoyed a successful England career since making a century on Test debut against Australia at The Oval in 2009 with the one blip coming on a tour of South Africa, where the pressure appeared to get to him. But he said the prospect of playing the Proteas no longer fazed him.
“It was one of my first tours away and you get to be more comfortable in your surroundings,” said the 29-year-old Warwickshire batsman. “And when it doesn’t go your way you just take stuff and move on and it is one of those things. You always learn from the experiences that come your way.
The Ireland match saw Trott equal the record for the fastest 1,000 runs in one-day internationals. He reached the landmark in 21 innings, equalling the record previously shared by West Indies great Vivian Richards and Trott’s England team-mate Kevin Pietersen.
Pressed on whether he found it strange to be in such company, he replied: “It seems to be a surprise to you more than me.” England had fitness concerns over Paul Collingwood, Graeme Swann and Pietersen but a team spokesman said all three were available for selection.
© AFP
