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Page last updated at 07:34 GMT, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 08:34 UK

Form merited England call - Trott

Fourth Ashes Test, Headingley: England v Australia
Dates: Friday, 7 August - Tuesday, 11 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live Test Match Special commentary (from 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST on remaining days) on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.


Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott
Trott has scored three County Championship centuries this season

Jonathan Trott believes his good form means he deserves his call-up to the England squad for the fourth Ashes Test with Australia, which starts on Friday.

The Warwickshire batsman, 28, averages 93 with the bat this season and is in a 14-man squad for Headingley.

He told BBC Sport: "I had a solid 2008 and I'm playing pretty well this year.

"I had a good winter with the Lions in New Zealand so I'd done as much as I could. It was up to the selectors and I was just happy to get the call."

Trott, who played under-19 cricket for South Africa, is a distant relative of former Australia captain Harry Trott, and his brother Albert, who played for both England and Australia in the late 19th century.

He has been drafted in as a potential sixth batsman should Andrew Flintoff's persistent right knee injury rule the Lancashire all-rounder out.

Flintoff opted not to bowl at England's first preparation session for the penultimate Ashes Test on Wednesday, but that was to be expected as he continues to manage his injury.

"At the moment, I've no idea if I'll play," Trott added. "It all depends on how Flintoff is I guess. I've had a chat with England coach Andy Flower and I look forward to chatting with him more and seeing how things are.

"If they decide to go with six batsmen and I get a crack, then that will be brilliant. They are all in good form and I hope to play like them.

"Self belief is a massive thing in cricket and it's something I feel I have. It's just down to watching the cricket ball and playing the best I can. It doesn't really matter what's going on on the sidelines, it's what happens on the field that counts and I hope to be judged on that."

Flintoff looks likely to play though, according to England national selector Geoff Miller.

He told BBC Sport: "My hunch is he will be fit he but we have to monitor him.

"We want to win every Test match we play and if Freddy is fit he's an integral part of the side. It's preferable to go to the final Test at The Oval 2-0 up so there is no thought in resting him for this one. But we'll have to see how he rocks up on the first morning."

Playing six batsmen at Headingley a few years ago would have been unheard of as the Yorkshire ground was renowned as being a seam bowlers' paradise.

I am very happy with Stuart Broad, he is a great competitor who is learning about bowling and batting in the best arena possible and he is doing very well.

England coach Andy Flower

But Yorkshire's former England bowler Matthew Hoggard says the pitch has changed and hinted that going with an extra bowler might be a good option.

He told BBC Sport: "Headingley is now not the seamer-friendly pitch it has been. Yorkshire have struggled to get results. We've struggled to get 20 wickets in a match and so have the teams we've played against.

"It's going to be quite a friendly batting track and the conditions will play a big part. If it's overcast it will swing a bit, if not the batsmen will fill their boots."

Hoggard believes England should play his former strike partner Steve Harmison at Headingley.

"I'm a big Harmison fan," Hoggard continued. "I've played against him this season and he looked the most threatening bowler we've played against.

"He's tall, he's fast, he gets awkward bounce and you need that at Headingley. If it's going to be a sunny day and if there's no swing about you need something out of the norm and I'm sure the Australian batsmen wouldn't want to face an on-song Steve Harmison."

Stuart Broad appears to be the bowler most under pressure for his place after his Nottinghamshire team-mate Ryan Sidebottom was brought into the squad.

Sidebottom recently took a five-wicket haul at Somerset's batsmen-friendly Taunton ground and has taken 23 County Championship wickets, while Broad has picked up just six wickets in three Tests against Australia.

606: DEBATE
SouthernHemisphere

However, the 23-year-old has contributed useful runs down the order, including 55 at Edgbaston to help put England in a strong position.

Broad has the backing of England coach Andy Flower, who said: " His innings at Edgbaston was impressive and the last time we played at Headingley he played an even more impressive knock (67 not out) against the South Africans.

"He is a fantastic young cricketer now and he is going to be even better as he progresses and as the team progresses.

"Yes, he has had a quiet series with the ball but he has chipped in every now and then and he is part of that five-man attack and that attack has to dovetail a little.

"It's not always you taking all the wickets, sometimes it is you that has to build up the pressure, sometimes you are the man missing out on the wickets and the kudos.

"I am very happy with Stuart, he is a great competitor who is learning about bowling and batting in the best arena possible and he is doing very well."

England take a 1-0 lead into the penultimate Test of the series with The Oval Test following on Thursday, 20 August.



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see also
Justin Langer column
05 Aug 09 |  Cricket
Classic Ashes clashes: Headingley
04 Aug 09 |  England
Australia on top as England slump
07 Aug 09 |  Australia
Trott gets surprise England call
04 Aug 09 |  England
Strauss frustrated by stalemate
03 Aug 09 |  England
Aussies defy England to earn draw
03 Aug 09 |  England
Live cricket on the BBC
26 Oct 11 |  Cricket
Australia in England 2009
20 Sep 09 |  England


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FROM OTHER SPORT SITES
Herald Sun Flintoff already ruled out - report - 1 hr ago
Qatar Peninsula Coach Flower backs selection of uncapped batsman Trott - 2 hrs ago
Irish Independent In Brief: Trott receives shock call-up - 14 hrs ago
Gulf Times England ready to run with Trott - 15 hrs ago
The Times South Africa Flower bats for Englands South African - 19 hrs ago