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Trott backs Cook to end poor form
England batsman Jonathan Trott is confident team-mate Alastair Cook will follow his example and emerge from his run of poor form.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: August 16, 2010 02:22 PM IST
Read Time: 3 min
London:
Cook's place at the top of the order is under scrutiny ahead of Wednesday's third Test against Pakistan at the Oval after scores of eight, 12, 17 and four so far in the series.
Trott, who has been touted as an opener if Cook is dropped, went through a similar period of low scores on the tour to South Africa, where he averaged just 27 in four Tests.
But Trott scored a double hundred against Bangladesh earlier this season and two half-centuries from the star against Pakistan at Edgbaston last week helped England go 2-0 up in the series as they claimed a nine-wicket win.
And number three Trott, who has been arriving at the crease early in England's innings this series, expects Cook to come good again on the more batsmen-friendly wickets of the Oval and then Lord's next week.
"He will be fine. Earlier this year you probably thought I was where he is... there are similarities. It is amazing how things can change," Trott said on Monday.
"Whenever I see Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook on the field I feel very secure. Sometimes I could be waiting until lunchtime with my pads on and then have to take them off.
"You have got to be prepared for anything that happens. I look to Alastair as a batting partner and someone I could go to to chat.
"He is always willing to help me and hopefully he can do the same with regards to the team. I don't think I will have to open."
Trott this week returns to the scene of his Test debut at the Oval, where nearly a year ago he scored a century that helped England regain the Ashes.
Almost 12 months on, Trott looks firmly established in the England line-up and he puts that down to the approach of coach Andy Flower and captain Strauss who made him feel at ease in the two weeks leading up to his first start.
The South African-born batsman added: "Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss have a big emphasis on surrounding a new player when he comes in and putting an arm around him and saying 'come on, you can succeed at this level'.
"It is not a feeling that you have been thrown in at the deep end and you are finding your feet.
"It is 'you are good enough, take your chance'. That is how I felt when I came in, I was in the squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, because Andrew Flintoff was a doubt, and I had a drink with them and I felt really welcomed.
"It was inviting and made me feel welcome and when I came in at the Oval what happened two weeks earlier helped me feel settled and comfortable in the dressing room.
"It has been a year full of memories, starting here and going back to South Africa and playing a series there.
"It is like coming into a new job, finding your role in the team and in the dressing room and all the things that go with making a successful team.
"I have learnt a lot from my experiences. It takes a lot of getting used to."
England batsman Jonathan Trott is confident team-mate Alastair Cook will follow his example and emerge from his run of poor form.Cook's place at the top of the order is under scrutiny ahead of Wednesday's third Test against Pakistan at the Oval after scores of eight, 12, 17 and four so far in the series.
Trott, who has been touted as an opener if Cook is dropped, went through a similar period of low scores on the tour to South Africa, where he averaged just 27 in four Tests.
But Trott scored a double hundred against Bangladesh earlier this season and two half-centuries from the star against Pakistan at Edgbaston last week helped England go 2-0 up in the series as they claimed a nine-wicket win.
And number three Trott, who has been arriving at the crease early in England's innings this series, expects Cook to come good again on the more batsmen-friendly wickets of the Oval and then Lord's next week.
"He will be fine. Earlier this year you probably thought I was where he is... there are similarities. It is amazing how things can change," Trott said on Monday.
"Whenever I see Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook on the field I feel very secure. Sometimes I could be waiting until lunchtime with my pads on and then have to take them off.
"You have got to be prepared for anything that happens. I look to Alastair as a batting partner and someone I could go to to chat.
"He is always willing to help me and hopefully he can do the same with regards to the team. I don't think I will have to open."
Trott this week returns to the scene of his Test debut at the Oval, where nearly a year ago he scored a century that helped England regain the Ashes.
Almost 12 months on, Trott looks firmly established in the England line-up and he puts that down to the approach of coach Andy Flower and captain Strauss who made him feel at ease in the two weeks leading up to his first start.
The South African-born batsman added: "Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss have a big emphasis on surrounding a new player when he comes in and putting an arm around him and saying 'come on, you can succeed at this level'.
"It is not a feeling that you have been thrown in at the deep end and you are finding your feet.
"It is 'you are good enough, take your chance'. That is how I felt when I came in, I was in the squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, because Andrew Flintoff was a doubt, and I had a drink with them and I felt really welcomed.
"It was inviting and made me feel welcome and when I came in at the Oval what happened two weeks earlier helped me feel settled and comfortable in the dressing room.
"It has been a year full of memories, starting here and going back to South Africa and playing a series there.
"It is like coming into a new job, finding your role in the team and in the dressing room and all the things that go with making a successful team.
"I have learnt a lot from my experiences. It takes a lot of getting used to."
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket
Alastair Cook
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