TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Jonathan Trott on Thursday will have his notebook out to take notes when his team, Gulf Giants, start their campaign against MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium. But on the same day, he will have one eye on his iPad watching the drama unfold at the Gabba for the pink-ball Test, where the Ben Stokes-led England side will be looking to level the Ashes.“I wouldn’t bet against England,” Trott tells TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.The first Ashes Test ended inside two days, with Australia winning the match by eight wickets. Trott defends England’s ultra-aggressive approach in Tests and backs the current team to bounce back at the Gabba.“I think you need to embrace the way you think is going to give you the best chance of winning. That’s the way Brendan (McCullum) and Stokes (Ben) see their chances in Australia. They are going to back it, because they have lost games before and ended up winning series as well,” he says.“Australia are a very good side. Obviously, they are in the driving seat now, going into a pink-ball Test on Thursday. I would be very cautious about betting against this England side,” he adds.England’s Joe Root has questioned whether the Ashes should include a pink-ball Test. “I don’t think you need it in an Ashes series. Absolutely not,” Root says. Meanwhile, Travis Head dismissed Root’s comments: “Pink ball, white ball, red ball… who really cares?”
England have not won a Test in Australia since 2010-11, failing to triumph in 14 of their 16 matches, and they have never won a day-night Test at Brisbane in three attempts. (Image Credit: ICC)
Trott also chimes in on the fresh debate around the pink-ball Test.“I think with Ashes cricket, you don’t need to change too much,” says Trott.“I never played in a pink-ball Test. I played in pink-ball four-day games at the back end of my career and it was different. I think you’ve just got to weigh up whether there’s a balance between bat and ball. People speak about twilight and that sort of stuff. It adds a bit of dimension to the game and a bit of intrigue.“But if they think it can add to the atmosphere and the series, then why not,” adds Trott.Trott, who will end his tenure as Afghanistan’s head coach at the conclusion of the 2026 T20 World Cup in March, defends the early finishes of Test matches and reminds critics that a few years ago, they were bored with drawn Tests.“I think, like the world, cricket is changing; the world is changing,” he says.“I think the Ashes are going to be a great series; it’s going to be interesting. England play a certain type of cricket and have been very entertaining. We saw a fantastic series in England between India and England. You saw contrasting styles—the way Shubman Gill was captaining and how he led the side, and then the difference in the way Ben Stokes did.“So I think we’ve got to be careful that we don’t try and pigeonhole Test cricket and ODI cricket. What we should do is embrace the way that each team plays Test cricket or ODI cricket. That’s what makes cricket interesting—everybody has a different approach. They do what they think gives them the best chance of winning. England think this is their best way of winning. India are deciding to play on pitches that turn a great deal—or a hell of a lot, as I was about to say. That’s their style of cricket. So you’ve just got to embrace it and go with it.“Don’t forget, there was a time when we thought cricket was boring and there were too many draws. Now we’re saying that cricket’s too short and there are too many wins and losses. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t always think the grass is greener,” says Trott.The 2010-11 Ashes winner also shared his opinion on the pitches—especially in Perth and Eden Gardens, where the Tests ended in two and two-and-a-half days, respectively.“I’ve been part of games in India where it’s spun before, both playing and coaching. But I think that’s what makes cricket so great,” he says.“When you go to India, you know it’s going to spin. You go to Sri Lanka, it’s going to spin. When you go to Australia, it’s going to be pacey and bouncy.“You don’t want everything to suddenly become the same. That’s what makes cricket so great. And that’s always a challenge as a player—and for somebody like me now as a coach—to be able to coach in those different conditions and excel. That’s the most important thing,” he says.
A grand opening ceremony kicked off the Season 4 of ILT20
With the number of T20 leagues being played across the globe, Trott, who was previously head coach of Pretoria Capitals in SA20 2024–25, bats for separate windows for franchise cricket and international cricket.“I certainly feel that as the ICC, with the duty of care for the game, we need to look after international cricket. I certainly feel there should perhaps be windows for international cricket and windows for franchise cricket, so that international sides and franchises know when they play their tournaments. That way, everyone can coexist and continue to grow the game and get more people interested,” he opines.“So people watching the game know—this month is franchise cricket across the world; next month is international cricket. I think the sport needs that sort of understanding,” he says.When asked about the growth of the ILT20, Trott believes the league is growing and will only get bigger.“You look at the quality of coaches around the league and the other sides. You look at the quality of captains—Pollard, Tim Southee, two vastly experienced international players. It makes the tournament stronger.“Their presence will do wonders for the local players. They have the best opportunity in the world to learn and watch some of the greatest players. A lot of local players are going to gain exposure in the dressing room, in the hotel environment, in the gym—watching, learning, talking. So I think it can only grow, and hopefully that transcends onto the field,” he says.
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