Vaughan: Trott looks frantic at crease and ought to be dropped
FORMER England skipper Michael Vaughan has urged England to ditch opener Jonathan Trott for tomorrow’s third and final Test with the West Indies in Barbados and promote uncapped Yorkshireman Adam Lyth.
Vaughan insists the 34-year-old has looked uncharacteristically fidgety at the crease in the Caribbean after returning to the international scene following an 18-month absence with a stress-related illness, which emerged during the 2013/14 Ashes series.
The Warwickshire batsman has struggled to acclimatise to his new position at the top of the batting order having played the majority of his 51 Test matches for England at No3.
Trott’s half-century in the first innings in Grenada perforated a sequence of low scores in the series, including two ducks, form which Vaughan believes places his Ashes participation in the summer in serious jeopardy.
“I thought risking Trott at the top of the order was the right kind of risk as you want that style of player back in your team and the only available slot was as an opener,” said Vaughan.
“But I think he is too frantic and, unless he can change that, I don’t see him walking out at Cardiff in July to open in the Ashes against Australia.
“I know it’s only one step up from three to two but it is a completely different concept, you have to set the tone and send a calmness back with your method and technique – something he hasn’t done in four innings as an opener.
“I would like to see Lyth given an opportunity now as we are only three Tests away from Australia and England have got to get that opening partnership right.”