The Ashes: England’s 4th Test squad

The news is that Ryan Sidebottom has been recalled to the squad, and that Jonathan Trott has been included as batting cover for Flintoff, should his knees decide that they’d much prefer to stay at home than spend five days at Headingley.

Now, before everyone starts moaning about how Trott was born and raised in South Africa, and how England are more like a Commonwealth XI these days, let me just point out that he does have a British passport.  And that I don’t care anyway.  And that he is also a distant relative of one Albert Trott, who was born in Australia, and played Tests for England as well.  Probably nobody made too much of a fuss about all this back in 1898/9*.  In terms of domestic form, Trott is top of the list – a championship average this season of 99.blah for Warwickshire.  So that’s that.

Sidebottom is worth including in the squad with Flintoff’s knees, Broad’s bowling form and Harmison’s toe all a worry.  Headingley might well suit his bowling style (the nippy left arm seam and swing version, not the wobbly just-above-medium version we saw last winter).

England will not want to make changes, but they have 14 names to choose from should they need to.  And no, before you think it, Trott will not likely replace Bopara (one more average innings still does not mean he is rubbish, it’s only been 5).  Or Bell.  Or anyone else bar Flintoff if he is injured.

England squad: Strauss, Cook, Bopara, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions, Trott, Harmison, Sidebottom

* The same Albert Trott who famously hit a six over the top of the Lord’s pavilion, the only player ever to have done so.

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