Warwickshire and England legend Dennis Amiss is in “no doubt” that Jonathan Trott will make a successful return to cricket for both county and country.
Trott is recovering well from the stress-related illness which forced him home early from the winter Ashes tour. The 32-year-old is on course to be fit for the start of the 2014 season with the Bears and to be ready also to face the additional demands of a benefit year.
And Amiss, who has been appointed Trott’s benefit chairman, is certain he has all the attributes required to put the events of this winter’s Ashes tour firmly behind him.
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“Trotty’s hunger, determination and dedication to cricket has been evident throughout his career and I know he will make a successful return for both county and country,” he said.
“He will return to play for Warwickshire fit and ready to score big runs and force his way back into England’s plans.
“I first saw Jonathan play on trial at Knowle and Dorridge CC for Warwickshire’s Second XI side back in 2002 when he scored 245 and cemented his place in the county’s future plans. The attributes he displayed on that day told me he would go on to have success at every level of this great game and I was not surprised to witness his rise over the last decade.”
Trott has gone on to build a hugely impressive career with a Test batting average of over 46 in 49 matches, including nine centuries and a first-class average of over 45.
One of his most crucial innings was on Test debut against Australia at The Oval in 2009 when his 119 proved pivotal in ensuring England regained the urn with a 2-1 series victory.
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“That performance tells you everything you need to know about the man because there is no bigger stage than a deciding match against the Australians,” Amiss said.
“He is very proud to represent Warwickshire and England and, despite his South African upbringing, once told me how he prefers Birmingham to Cape Town!”
Trott has been awarded his benefit after 12 years’ service to the Bears and Amiss was thrilled to be asked to be the chairman for the year.
“I have known Jonathan and his wife Abi for many years and I am very honoured to be the chairman,” he said. “I hope the functions and events planned are hugely successful and he has the great support from the cricketing community because he thoroughly deserves it.”
Exactly when Trott will rejoin his Bears team-mates remains to be seen but, whenever that is, he will be warmly welcomed back.
“Everyone at the club is really looking forward to welcoming Jonathan back to play at Edgbaston,” said chief executive Colin Povey. “He is as committed to helping Warwickshire succeed as he is England and I am certain he will return fitter, stronger and even more determined to succeed.”
Meanwhile, Bears captain Jim Troughton will miss at least the first five championship games of the season after undergoing back surgery last week.
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Troughton resorted to surgery in an attempt to deal with the disc problem which has troubled him intermittently for five years.
The trouble, caused by three unstable dics in his lower back, flared up again last summer ruling him out of the second half of the season. The Bears hoped that management of the problem and the player’s workloads would ease it sufficiently and, for the first half of the winter, all was going well.
But then one of the discs herniated and it was felt that surgery was the only option; a drastic one but one which will hopefully settle the area down overall.
Capably though Varun Chopra and Ian Bell have deputised as captain in the past, Warwickshire will want to have the man who led them to the title in 2012 back as soon as possible.
He is likely to miss the first third of the championship season and possibly the start of the T20 campaign.
The Bears want Troughton back fit and firing, though his absence can be covered if, as seems likely, England pair Bell and Trott are available.
Bell will probably be made available by England to get some runs under his belt in county cricket ahead of Test series against Sri Lanka and India.