No stiff upper lip as Jonathan Trott departs as Afghan coach

Jonathan Trott. (Getty Images)

Jonathan Trott had clearly rehearsed how not to get upset. When Afghanistan’s outgoing coach walked in for his final post-match press conference here on Thursday, that was perhaps the ‘note to self’ jotted in the yellow notebook he clutched in his hand. The facade didn’t last long. The emotion in the press room was palpable and Trott didn’t quite follow the script, and understandably so.

T20 World Cup: Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott's emotional press conference

Since taking charge in 2022, Trott has taken Afghanistan’s cricket to new heights, helping the side stand toe-to-toe with more established teams, guiding them to a T20 World Cup semifinal in the last edition and scripting many memorable upsets. The job, he reminded everyone, was never designed with his name on it. It had originally been meant for Graham Thorpe, but when that didn’t materialise, Trott grabbed it “with both hands”. First, the Englishman, pausing occasionally as his voice dipped, thanked the team for the opportunity and wished Afghan cricket the best for the future. “It’s not my decision (to terminate the contract), so that’s all I’ll leave it at, really. Maybe the time’s right, maybe it’s not. I’m here by chance, but I gave it my all. I hope the players can see the love I have for the game and the care that I have for them as players and as people. The great joy for me in this job has been seeing the players develop off the field as well — lives changing, not just on it, but in the way they can alter their families’ fortunes and trajectory. Forget the cricketing side; watching boys I took over grow into young men has been truly worthwhile,” said Trott, who was almost welling up. And then, while answering a question on his role in Afghan cricket’s rise, Trott swallowed the lump in his throat and stifled tears. “I could sit here and tell you so many stories of things that I’ve seen with my own eyes... the talent.” Then, pausing and fighting back tears, he said, “I said I didn’t want to get upset. I just remember my first trip when we were in Ireland, and I saw things that made me realise how talented and focused these boys are. I felt, let’s try and build on what we’ve got as natural, raw talent and see how far we can take it. “I remember how chaotic that first tour was. To see where we are now is like chalk and cheese. The players deserve so much credit because they operate at such a high level compared to what they’re afforded in other countries. They don’t have the day-to-day coaching, academies, facilities or schooling that young players elsewhere get. The amount of coaching I’ve had, compared to the coaching that these guys are now operating at, at international level, is chalk and cheese. So, I take my hat off to every single one of them. I’ll be watching from afar and I’ll always be very fond and want the guys to do well,” Trott said. Trott might have hoped for a different climax, but this World Cup brought heartbreak for the 44-year-old. Afghanistan lost to South Africa in a double Super Over and then missed out on reaching the Super 8 stage in Group D.

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