Trott out in the Cold in South Africa

Monday 31st August, 2009 15 Trott out in the cold in South Africa

A century on debut debate or argument. I admired and left South Africa, there was that single-mindedness even no way he was going to settle for in a memorable, Ashes- though it annoyed so many peo- being an average county pro. He winning Test match ple,” Dawson said. was up against people like has given Jonathan South Africa coach Mickey Graeme Smith here and, with Arthur also remembers being the way South African cricket Trott the kind of start impressed by the talent of the was structured back then, he to his international young Trott, but perplexed by was never going to make it into career that young his attitude. the national squad.” “I was coach of Griqualand Arthur believes that, even if English boys grow up West when he was playing for he had stayed in the country and dreaming about. Not to Western Province and he won a made the same progress that he Wandering star: Jonathan Trott in action against Australia, but it is unlikely he would have made the game with a brilliant innings. has in England, he would have mention a honeymoon South Africa team if he had stayed in the country of his birth. period long enough to But I wondered about whether been some way from represent- he would ‘make it’, mentally, ing the Proteas. make newlyweds drool. because he behaved in a pretty “His decision to leave affects and our system,” Kallis said. “No water off a duck’s back. He ing it my best shot!” Arthur ordinary way. But I’m pleased our overall depth, but it’s diffi- doubt it will get interesting if he might even give some back to agrees that Trott “certainly has by Neil Manthorp for him, I really am, I know how cult to see where he would have hasn’t.” the crowd,” Dawson says. the potential” to rile or even hard he’s worked for it and he forced his way into our squad.” Dawson insists that Trott Left-arm spinner Paul incite local crowds. In South Africa, however, his deserves it,” Arthur said. Jacques Kallis was already deserves credit for making a Harris, a near lifelong mate, was “At this stage it would former colleagues and team- “His fighting spirit could be an established international hard and painful decision – and inadvertently responsible for appear that Pietersen and Trott mates are not constrained by misunderstood – and frequently with WP when Trott was begin- then dedicating the last seven Trott’s one ‘blemish’ on his loy- will be side by side in the Ashes glory and, notwithstand- was – but I wanted him in my ning his career and their paths years of his life to it. alty record: “He was at England middle-order. There is ing a general feeling of satisfac- team any time. He was feisty and crossed only briefly: “He had a “It was a huge decision to Edgbaston when we won the nothing to suggest that tion for the former SA under-19 determined, even with his own reputation as ‘trouble’ but that make and took a lot of courage series last year and he came up Pietersen will be received any and Western Province batsman, team-mates, but the important can often be misleading. to leave a country he loved and to me and shook my hand. The differently to how he has been few punches have been pulled thing is that he could take some It was obvious he had ‘some- seek his fortune somewhere next thing he knew he was being in the past, so Trott may well be about the character and person- flak as well as dish it out,” thing’. He could certainly bat else. At least nobody can accuse accused of ‘celebrating’ with us, included in that reception.” ality of England’s newest star. Dawson said. well above average, but it was a him of being half-hearted. He which he wasn’t,” says Harris. Dawson, despite his happy “He could be a complete “He rated himself ridiculous- question of his temperament,” bought into the whole thing It is interesting that even a bias in favour of an old mate, pain,” said WP team-mate Alan ly highly as a bowler, even Kallis said. totally, adopted England as his friend such as Harris has doubts encapsulates the ‘average’ mood Dawson who played two Tests though he bowled filthy little “I don’t think he will receive home and completely committed about Trott’s temperament: “I with concise and succulent and 19 one-dayers for South seamers – he was a fast bowler a hostile reception – unless he himself. have no doubt that he’ll get a South African verve: “Trotty Africa during Trott’s formative trapped in a medium-pacer’s makes comments about South “It’ll be interesting to see hot and fiery reception when he deserves to be successful and I years at WP. body. But he worked bloody hard Africa like Kevin Pietersen did. what kind of reception the walks out to bat here, and I’m hope he has a great tour. And, “Having said that, I really at every aspect of his cricket People accept that he made his crowds give him, especially at not sure how well he’ll handle obviously, I hope England get enjoyed him – he was always and that’s why I’m not surprised decision and did everything the Newlands. There will be those it. thrashed, too.” spiky and cocksure, always to see him succeed with right way. I’m sure he will have that call him a ‘traitor’ but he’ll But if one man can drag him backed himself and was con- England. learned the lessons from what also have a lot of mates in the into a verbal tussle, it’s me, and (C) The Telegraph Group, vinced that he was right in every “When he packed his bags Kevin said about South Africa stands. The insults will be like you can rest assured I’ll be giv- London, 2009

US Open England team set to be investigated by RFU by Paul Ackford and sional game. tence, and the £259,000 fine Telegraph Sport’s sources as Paul Kelso Wall also heard how the levied on Harlequins. they are based on a confiden- Clijsters aims for cut-and-stitch technique has An RFU spokesman said tial review by Harlequins been used to get round regu- the allegations would be inves- which guaranteed player Telegraph Sport can dis- lations limiting the use of tigated by the Task Group. immunity.” close that the national side perfect return but pain-killing injections, and “The Task Group will look All blacks faked injuries in has been dragged into the allegations of systematic at all issues to do with inap- 1999 scandal after players and faking of injuries to enable propriate behaviour that The furore over Bloodgate staff at Harlequins, the club Serena still favourite front-row forwards to share undermine the core values of has led many to believe that at the centre of the affair, the burden, known as “shift- the game at all levels of the faking blood injuries is new. In by Mark Hodgkinson ried, have a baby, and then Aged just 26, with a lifted the lid on institution- work”. game, on and off the field. Any fact it is at least 10 years old. in New York return to the circuit to one-year-old daughter alised cheating in the profes- While the specific allega- information received from Tana Umaga, the former All challenge for grand-slam called Jada, she could sional game. tions against the England Harlequins will be just one Blacks captain, writing in his The allegations of cheat- Everyone is out there titles. have a few more good ten- team remain unclear, Wall’s input to the Task Group. It is autobiography ‘Up Close’ ing were made during a launching, promoting, What an extraordinary nis years left in her. findings have been handed vital the Task Group gets to wrote: “In the third place play- Harlequins internal review doing a little light market- story it would be if She has been drawn in to the RFU’s chief discipli- the bottom of the issues so off game against the following the Bloodgate nary officer Judge Jeff that swift action can be Springboks [1999 World Cup] I ing. Outside the Clijsters, a former world the first round with scandal conducted by busi- Blackett, and are certain to taken.” was pulled off at half time. Rockefeller Center, Maria No 1 and the 2005 US Open Viktoriya Kutuzova, from nessman Malcolm Wall, who be investigated further by “It would not be appropri- Sharapova appeared on a champion, can become the Ukraine. There is the pos- was appointed interim chair- (C) The Telegraph the governing body. ate to comment on the specific stage to tell New York first mother since Evonne sibility of a fourth-round man of the club on Friday Group, London, 2009 On Friday the RFU disclosures from the night after Charles Jillings about a footwear and meeting with Venus announced the membership resigned. handbag collection she Williams. of a “task group” that will Sources close to the has helped design for Cole But can anyone stop examine issues arising from Everyone is out inquiry have revealed that the Harlequins affair. Haan, including a pair of Serena? Even if Serena, Wall heard evidence of The Wall inquiry has ‘ankle-booties’ which use there launching, who starts against cheating and sophisticated helped inform the inquiry Nike Air technology. American Alexa Glatch, abuse of the rules in the pro- promoting, doing groups terms of reference, Venus and Serena goes on to retain her title, fessional game, including and it is inconceivable that the deliberate cutting of Williams confirmed last a little light mar- and Safina loses in the the RFU could ignore allega- players to abuse blood week that they have first round, the Russian tions against the England keting. replacement laws. bought stakes in an will still leave New York team. A source close to the Wall A source close to the American football team, as the world No 1, and the inquiry said that he had RFU’s task group said they the Miami Dolphins, to Goolagong at Wimbledon Californian will still be heard allegations of corrupt would not flinch from look- help raise their profiles. in 1980 to win a slam. second. practices in the Premiership ing at the England team: “If Or, as Serena put it, “to So far, Clijsters’ ‘unre- So Serena could leave and the Six Nations. the allegations lead to the “According to our investi- expand the brand”. tirement’ has been prom- Flushing Meadows having national side then we will gations it [cheating] is fairly And now we can wel- ising, as she made the won this season’s look at it, but I would be sur- widespread. I have wrestled come Kim Clijsters back quarter-finals of her first Australian Open, prised if we found anything with myself as to whether serious,” they said. to the grand slam scene. tournament back in Wimbledon and US Open fifty percent of Premiership Any investigation of the Clijsters doesn’t appear to Cincinnati, only stopped titles, and having reached clubs are involved or twenty national side would place have much to promote by Dinara Safina, the the quarter-finals of the percent, and I simply don’t Rob Andrew, the RFU’s apart from the idea a ten- Russian world No 1. And French Open, and the know,” the source said. director of elite rugby, in a “What I do know is that nis player then in Toronto she won a ranking computer still compromised position. He is some of the practices are can couple of rounds and had wouldn’t consider her to a member of the task group, occurring within interna- retire, her chances to beat be the best. but is ultimately responsible tional teams. Those teams for the England team and get Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, (C) The Telegraph are involved in the Six will face pressure to excuse mar- a former world No 1. Group, London, 2009 Nations and England have in himself from deliberations the past been one of them.” relating to their conduct. The most disturbing alle- There is no suggestion he is gations relate to the faking involved in any malpractice. of blood injuries. As well as On the comeback trail: Kim The latest revelations the use of fake-blood cap- Clijsters is hoping to become will deepen unease within sules, Wall heard details of the first mother for nearly 30 the game just a week before players being cut behind the years to win a grand slam. the Premiership season ear and stitched before begins. Harlequins remain games, allowing the wound under pressure despite to be re-opened later if a Jillings’s resignation, with blood replacement is ERC considering bringing required. fresh charges against the Coming in the club relating to the attempts wake of Tom to persuade Williams to hold Williams’ allega- back information at his tion that he asked appeal. Harlequins club Further details are likely doctor Wendy to emerge this week as ERC Chapman to cut published full judgements in Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid reacts to prevent being hit by him to cover-up his relation to the three-year a ball during a training camp in Bangalore, India, Saturday, use of fake-blood, ban handed to Dean the revelation will Aug. 29, 2009. The camp is being held to prepare for the tri- Richards, physio Steph compound distaste at nation series between India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Brennan’s two-year sen- the excesses of the profes- Colombo starting Sept. 8. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)