Trott gets England recall

LONDON: Jonathan Trott was yesterday named in the England Test squad for the first time since having to withdraw from the 2013-14 Ashes series with a stress-related condition.

The South Africa-born batsman, 34, was recalled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as part of a 16-man party for a three-Test tour of the West Indies starting next month. “Jonathan Trott produced some outstanding performances for Warwickshire last summer, scoring five centuries, and also made an unbeaten double-hundred during the recent successful England Lions tour,” said national selector James Whitaker in a statement.

“He is a player of proven international pedigree, and we are delighted to welcome him back into the squad.” All-rounder Ben Stokes was also included, along with the uncapped trio of Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, Yorkshire spinner Adil Rashid and Yorkshire opening batsman Adam Lyth.

Captain Alastair Cook returns as well, having been left out of the 50-over squad for the ongoing Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where England crashed out in the first round. Lyth is likely to compete with Trott for the right to open the batting alongside Cook after Sam Robson was dropped. Trott flew home from Brisbane 16 months ago and had to abort an attempted return to first-class cricket last year before flourishing with Warwickshire in the second half of the 2014 season. It earned him a call-up for the secondstring England Lions’ tour of South Africa and he impressed as captain on his return to his native country, scoring an unbeaten double-century against South Africa A in Paarl.—AFP