On runs and the Trotts

The addition to the England squad of Jonathon Trott is yet further evidence that the selectors are reluctant to relinquish the Empire.

If the 4th test goes against them, I fully expect to see the names of Jacques Kallis, Ishant Sharma and Chris Gayle on the team sheet for the oval. Maybe even a recall for Basil D’Oliveira. England have certainly missed a few dollies this year!

Trott, well know for smashing boundaries almost as much as he smashes dressing room furniture( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/theashes/5972354/The-Ashes-Jonathan-Trott-comes-of-age-to-win-England-recall.html), will assume an Andy Murray like role in the hearts of the fans. Should he show true grit, he will of course become a true Brit; if not, he will be cast out as an impudent foreigner.
He may not get a game – he is nominally in the squad as cover for Freddie, a sort of cricketing duvet.

Can England win without Freddie and KP? The Lions won without all their stars, so maybe. The Aussies are on the back foot – evident as their psychobabble between matches now includes such earnest claims as “we hope Freddie is fit – we want to beat their best side” from Marcus North.

But we need a wicket taker. Harmie? – maybe. Sidebottom? perhaps. Onions, Broad? No. Honest county toilers. Broad may yet surprise us, and revert to the batting role which started him in cricket, becoming a sort of Kallis like 5th seamer. Onions, for all he looks like Mike Hendrick, is not of the same quality. Anderson and Swan (and Rudi Koertzen) are our best hopes – who’d have thought it?

With the forecast for Headingly looking reassuringly poor, and the Oval wicket producing as many runs as a Delhi curry this year, England may have done enough. Ponting and co will battle to the end, but sometimes the sporting script runs against battlers.