Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott (born 22 April 1981) is a former English professional cricketer who played international cricket for England and is a former head coach of the Afghanistan national cricket team. A right-handed top-order batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler, Trott built his domestic career with Warwickshire County Cricket Club and also played stints in South Africa and New Zealand. He was named ICC and ECB Cricketer of the Year in 2011.
Key facts
| Full name | Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 April 1981 |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm medium pace (occasional) |
| Fielding position | Often at slip, particularly to spinners |
| Domestic team | Warwickshire County Cricket Club |
| International team | England |
| Test debut | Fifth Ashes Test, August 2009 |
| T20I debut | 2007 (played two T20Is) |
| Highest Test score | 226 vs Bangladesh, Lord's, 28 May 2010 |
| Major honours | ICC Cricketer of the Year 2011; ECB Cricketer of the Year 2011 |
| Retired (international) | 4 May 2015 |
| Retired (professional) | End of 2018 English domestic season |
| Coaching role | Head coach, Afghanistan cricket team (appointed July 2022) |
Background
Trott played his domestic cricket primarily for Warwickshire, supplementing his career with stints in South Africa and New Zealand. He first appeared for England in the shortest international format, playing two Twenty20 Internationals in 2007.
International career
Rise and Test debut
Strong county performances in 2008 and 2009, alongside a productive 2008–09 tour with the England Lions, earned Trott a call-up to the senior England Test squad in August 2009 for the fifth Ashes Test against Australia. He scored a century on debut, becoming the 18th England player to do so in his first Test match.
Ashes century at the MCG
About eighteen months after his debut, Trott scored another century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, helping set up the victory in which England retained the Ashes.
Highest Test score
Trott's highest Test score for England is 226, made against Bangladesh at Lord's on 28 May 2010. He took his maiden Test wicket in the same match.
Stress-related break and return
In November 2013, citing stress and anxiety, Trott left England's Ashes tour of Australia, intending to take a break from all forms of cricket. A comeback attempt in April 2014 was shelved after a recurrence of the condition. He returned to the England Test side for the 2015 series in the West Indies, but after a difficult series, he retired from all international cricket on 4 May 2015.
Retirement from professional cricket
In May 2018, Trott announced that he would retire from professional cricket at the end of the English domestic season that year, drawing the curtain on a long career with Warwickshire and England.
Coaching career
In July 2022, Trott was appointed head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, taking charge of one of the rising sides in international cricket.
Significance
Trott is remembered as a technically organised top-order batsman who played a central role in England's successful Ashes campaigns around 2010–11. His debut century, his double century at Lord's, and his recognition as ICC and ECB Cricketer of the Year in 2011 mark him as one of the notable England batsmen of his generation. His openness about leaving an Ashes tour due to stress and anxiety also contributed to wider conversations on mental health in professional sport.
Related topics
- England cricket team
- Warwickshire County Cricket Club
- Afghanistan cricket team
- The Ashes
- England Lions
- ICC Cricketer of the Year
- Lord's Cricket Ground
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
References
- "Jonathan Trott", English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Trott
- Wikidata item: Q3529861