Trott returns to cricket and targets England re-call this summer

Jonathan Trott is set to make his cricket comeback in Warwickshire’s two-day friendly against Gloucestershire at Edgbaston just four months after leaving England’s disastrous Ashes tour.

Trott has not picked up a bat in anger since leaving Australia but Ladbrokes are going 2/1 the 32-year-old regains his place in the England Test side for the 1st first Test match of the summer against Sri Lanka in June.

The South African-born batsman left England’s winter tour due to a stress-related illness but since stating in an interview that he was burnt out rather than depressed, the Warwickshire man believes he is ready to return to the international stage.

But first he must prove he is ready by showing his form with runs for his county, who start their County Championship Division 1 campaign against Sussex, on April 13th.

And if he can do that England, who have lost Kevin Pietersen from their batting line-up since the 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia, will surely come calling for a man who averages over 46 with the bat in Test matches.

It has proved to be a winter of discontent for English cricket after 18 defeats from 25 matches in all forms of the game away from home and with spinner Graeme Swann and coach Andy Flower out of the set-up, Trott’s return would be a huge boost to Alastair Cook and whoever the new England coach may be.

With 3,763 runs from 49 Test matches and nine centuries to his name Trott can once again become a key component of a new-look England side at number three in the batting order but he will have to show he is back to being himself after his chastening experience this winter.

He looked a shadow of the man and batsman who won the International Cricket Council’s player of the year in 2010/11 with Mitchell Johnson’s left-arm seam causing him particular damage.

But England, who suffered an embarrassing World T20 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands to cap of their poor winter, seem to be willing to invest in Trott with England batting guru Graham Gooch netting with him ahead of his return to the game.

A determined Trott will only serve to improve England’s chances of success as they try to turn around the travails of recent months and if he can pile on the runs in the early part of the season the 2/1 on him regaining his England Test place will disappear very quickly.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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