As of a little over a year ago, Jonathan Trott, a former English hitter, was named head coach of Afghanistan. Over that time, they have had mixed success in one-day internationals against Asian teams, with a series win over Bangladesh balanced by a 3-0 loss to Pakistan and an early exit from the Asia Cup. During this time, their batting has also fallen apart a few times. In the World Cup, there were also two of them, but they were forgotten because the hitters helped their teams beat England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Trott talks about how Afghanistan’s focus has changed from just hitting the ball over the fence to other parts of batting, like having intense net sessions, breaking the goal up into slabs on a whiteboard, and more.
A lot of attention has been paid to Afghanistan’s spin bowling over the years. But in this World Cup, the hitters have been the stars…
Not because they’re in the spotlight, but because Afghanistan is known for their bowlers, so when they do well, it’s not a big surprise. But I think people didn’t expect that when their hitters have hit well and chased down big totals against good teams. Yes, I was sure they had the skills. It was just a matter of following through. We’ve been working hard with the players to get them in the mindset of setting goals or chasing totals. I’m glad to see that the hitters are getting rewarded for all their hard work.
I must be careful when I say that, though, because cricket changes quickly, and we need to have babies. That’s both the fun and the beauty of cricket. It’s up to you to follow up on your good game the next day. They say that if you have a bad day or lose the game, you can try again in the next game. We need to make sure that the results are backed up.
When you became coach last year, what was the first thing you noticed about the batting? How has it changed since then? What kind of work have you done lately?
I believe there was a lot of boundary hits, which is good for the coach. They were known for their T20 cricket, and the guys were getting fours. While talking to the batters, I’ve tried to keep that going and make the most of it for us. Maybe there hasn’t been as much stress on strike rotation or being able to hit singles when you’re under a lot of pressure. That relieves pressure. It starts with footwork, it starts with attitude, it starts with how the ball is angled and placed, and it starts with general mindset. Simply shifting the focus, when under pressure, it’s not always best to try to hit a boundary. Sometimes it’s better to hit a single or get off strike.
Some bad hitting by Afghanistan has happened in this World Cup, but for the most part, they have been on target. What did they talk about after they were out for 156 against Bangladesh and 139 against New Zealand?
The talks were just: that wasn’t really us. We were under a lot of pressure against England, and we lost a few wickets, but we still managed to get to a score that could be defended. We chased well in our last two games, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. So it’s just confirming what the players already think, and slowly but surely believing in their ways. They are working really hard in the gym and at the nets, keeping their minds on the game and not just the lines. Things that happen in between those are what matter. This is because we will reach limits. What I say and stress is that what happens between those lines is what matters. It keeps the heat off and the strike rate high.
Nine scores of 50 or more, and six of them in a row. Plus, there have been teams that went over 100 runs. In the last two matches, there have been six half-century stands. At this point, only one century is missing…
It will happen. Trying to reach those totals, I believe it’s always best to work together. When you’re batting first, you want to bat for all 50 overs and set the score, so there are times when you have more chances to score hundreds. We hope that’s not too far away. Before you bat or while you’re trying to beat a big score, it’s very important to set the platform. That is what you need to do to win games. Another thing I tell them is to pay attention to the score and do what the team needs them to do.
Afghanistan has mostly used old-school hitting in this World Cup, even though Bazball and T20 cricket have changed the rules of batting a lot. Let the new ball go, don’t try anything out of the ordinary, and wait for the free balls. This is definitely Trott…
I just think that the guys need to look at the scores, figure out how to play based on the conditions, and do what the team needs them to do. It’s not how I played, it’s how they play. I always want the guys to be themselves, to focus on what they do well and work on what they need to work on. That means it has nothing to do with how I’ve played. This is the kind of cricket that I think these guys are good at and that will help Afghanistan win games.
In recent years, Afghanistan has missed many chances to take part in close battles. People often give up after such close loses. How do you keep the teams going?
I guess it’s because they have faith in themselves and the other team to get through tough times. There is no bigger pressure on these guys than having to play Pakistan and chase down 280 (282) runs, which is exactly what we did on a wicket that was turning a bit. I’m happy for the guys, but I always look ahead. I don’t like to rest on my shoulders or think about the past too much.
On the subject of practice, you recently said that it’s important to make practice feel like an international game and not just hit half-volleys and long-hops into the nets…
We do our best to make it hard. We try to make sure that both the hitters and the bowlers are ready to go from the first ball. You can’t ease into it. When you’re hitting, I think you might sometimes think you can get away with a few things early on. It’s at that point that the other team will really want to get you out and not let you start. Starting off really well is important if you want to set up the way you want to play for the rest of your innings and the event.
In cricket, cutting the goal into slabs isn’t a new move. But why is it being shown so boldly in the team dugout during the World Cup?
The hitters and everyone else in the room could see how we were chasing the runs. When you’re on nought and we need 242, it can seem like a long way off. It looks a lot closer when you break it down, though. It leaves a lot more room for confusion.
The way that chasing has been done has been orderly and clinical. What made you so sure of yourself?
I think it’s because they believe they can play the longer game, which means they will use all 50 overs. I believe that people get caught up in T20 cricket and forget how long 50 overs cricket is. It was just being able to bat for longer amounts of time that the batsmen needed. They also needed the technical and mental skills to want to score a lot of runs. Making it possible for them to be their best selves! Depending on the situation and what your team wants you to do, you should be able to bat first, bowl first, chase a big score, or chase a low score.
What kinds of changes have been made to the hitters’ techniques since you took over?
You just have to find out how they naturally play and see if they need to make any small changes here and there. What method will make them sound better and let them play for longer games? They all hit the ball really well because that’s what they’ve done all their lives. To get the guys to play for longer, we need to do this. That’s generally what will help them and keep them strong.
What part do the coaches play in the mental side of things, especially during a long tournament like the World Cup?
It’s important to keep them fresh and not push them too hard. We want them to be ready for every game and perform at their best. That’s the most important thing. I’ve been really amazed by how fit the players are and how hard they work in the gym and off the field. For them, being able to field for 50 overs and then bat for long amounts of time and still win cricket games is a big plus.
What Milap Mewada and Ajay Jadeja, who are part of the coaching team, have done…
Since both of them are from the country, the players use what they have to say. They have a lot of experience with cricket, which is good for the boys. Even though they are very different, both personalities work just as well for the guys. They can talk to someone and work through things while getting better at their game.
What do you think Afghanistan should learn from this World Cup about their batting?
I think it’s great that the players are finally getting paid for all their hard work over the months. We hope that there are more awards on the way and that the good times will keep going. That being said, the guys now know how to beat cricket teams that have won the World Cup. That way, they know how good they are and how well they can play. With that in mind, I hope we can remember to do it every day from now on. If they can keep doing that, things are set up well for it to last.
