Trott happy to see batting competition

 

For a player who is ICC Cricketer of the Year and has hit heady heights with his run-scoring, Jonathan Trott still has to cope with plenty of questions being asked about his place especially in the one-day game. However, unsurprisingly for a man whose key trait is the single-mindedness he brings to his batting, Trott isn't getting worked up by thoughts of having to fight for his England berth.

He is set to continue in his No. 3 role for the one-day international series against India that starts on Friday and showed fluency as he made 74 of 68 balls in England's second warm-up match against a Hyderabad XI yesterday. 

He added 143 with Jonny Bairstow who flayed boundaries all around the ground, but that isn't Trott's game and he's comfortable with his role.

"For an older guy of the team it's a good thing to see that strength in depth," he said. "It spurs you on to try to push yourself and become even better. I feel like I've been pretty successful over the last couple of years, but, by no means, like I've done enough to deserve to secure my spot."

"You've got to go about it the best way you think you can contribute to the team," he added. "That's all I try to do, the only thing I really think about when I go out in the middle. Sometimes you get it wrong, play the wrong shot, but it's always while you're trying to do your best for your team-mates. I think everyone's got that mentality and that's why we've been pretty successful over the last few years."

There is stiff competition for batting places in the England line-up following Bairstow's recent performances, including the 53-ball hundred on Tuesday, and it could be that Ian Bell, their most impressive Test batsman during the home season, misses out for the first one-day international. Kevin Pietersen is back in the one-day se, although he failed in both warm-up matches while Ravi Bopara has enjoyed a consistent run.

However, Trott insists this England team is not about the individual and whoever is left out, it won't prove an issue. "Whichever XI is selected have to go out there with the full backing of each other and the guys off the field," he said. "It is not a case of wondering what the selection is going to be. You certainly go out there wanting to play for each other. It's your job to do that, do your best for England.

"It's not a case of looking over your shoulder. You can't go very far forward if you're looking over your shoulder the whole time. I don't think that's a very good mentality to have, worrying about your own place."