Trott: I need to face Australia

Peter Hanson

Trott: I need to face Australia image

Jonathan Trott is desperate to face Australia again and exorcise his on-pitch demons.

The batsman has not featured for England since leaving the touring party early during the 2013-14 Ashes in Australia with a stress-related illness.

Trott, who has scored nine centuries in 49 Tests, returned to the international arena with the England Lions in a tour of South Africa last month and scored a brilliant double century in the first match with a Proteas "A" team in Paarl.

And the 33-year-old is confident he is capable of facing the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc despite the troubles he faced Down Under.

"I want to [face Australia]," he told The Guardian. "I need to. I want to get back out there.

"It's not anything to do with one individual, it's not an agenda, I want to go out and score runs against Australia.

"You've got to be able to face Harris, Starc, all the guys. I think Harris is a fantastic bowler, a better bowler than Johnson even."

Trott's hopes of returning to the number three slot appear unlikely due to Gary Ballance's form in the Test arena, but there may be a chance for the Warwickshire man to open the batting with England yet to find a settled partner for captain Alastair Cook.

The 33-year-old's main focus, though, remains solely on returning to the full England set-up.

"Test and one-dayers. I'd love to play again," Trott added. "I wouldn't have gone on the Lions tour if I didn't want to play for England again.

"Whatever happens from here, if it happens, would be fantastic."

 

Peter Hanson