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T20 World Cup: An emotional Jonathan Trott bid farewell to Afghanistan cricket, saying that he is proud of his players and will remain a fan of them forever. Having got the chance to be the coach by luck, Trott guided Afghanistan to the semi-final stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.
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00:03Good evening. How do you look back at your experience?
00:06The best moments you've had and the ones that you think the team could have done better?
00:12The best moments so far of your coaching career with Afghanistan,
00:17the best moments you've had with them, areas you feel the team needs to improve going forward?
00:25Quite a big question first up.
00:30Lots of great memories.
00:32I always feel very fortunate enough to have had a lot of memories as a player,
00:35but also now as a coach as well.
00:38I think even at this ground, beating Pakistan,
00:40the first time in the World Cup, 50-over game, beating England,
00:45two games in St. Vincent, that's World Cup stuff.
00:49But there's been lots of other things we've achieved.
00:51Bilateral series, firsts where we've beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh away, South Africa.
00:55All these sorts of things.
00:56So I'm very fortunate enough to have coached some really great players,
01:01some really good humans, you know, a good bunch of guys and areas to improve, I think, everywhere.
01:10We saw a little bit of, you know, that today.
01:13Maybe seam bowling, the consistency, and develop some more seamers that'll aid the spinners
01:17and not just be heavily reliant on spinners.
01:19Develop some seam bowlers so that when the team plays in conditions perhaps like the World Cup in 27,
01:27you know, they'll be able to handle all different varieties of conditions.
01:31They're developing the batting resources to be able to have that.
01:35And it's about having the seamers now so they can compete all around the world, hopefully.
01:43Jonathan, well done, Akutrinya.
01:46Like, just like, where do you see this team?
01:49You just spoke about developing a fast bowling core and having a good army of spinners and stuff.
01:53But in the batting front, do you think Afghanistan still has, like, a lot to, like, sort of,
01:59employs on in the batting front, especially in the particularly in the T20?
02:01And also, like, what has prompted you to, like, sort of end it after this T20 World Cup?
02:09Say that again, sorry.
02:10No, what made you to, like, end your tenure after this T20 World Cup?
02:14Would you prefer to carry on to the 2027 World Cup as well?
02:21I think, just going on to the batting part, I think with the side sitting in T20,
02:29we're seeing new players come in and we're developing, you know, a top order.
02:34You know, I certainly don't think, you know, we've got 108 against New Zealand.
02:38Nearly chased 187 or 88, I think it was against South Africa, 160.
02:44We've got 200 today.
02:46So I don't think there's too much wrong with the batting.
02:48Okay, but I'm talking about the depth in having different players,
02:52maybe another left-hander somewhere so we can have left-right-hand combinations.
02:55Those little things that the top teams have the options of.
02:58That's all.
03:00But, you know, we've got such young, great players coming through
03:04and it's exciting and hopefully players get experience around the world
03:08in different leagues and can add that to the 50-over team as well.
03:13And with continuing, you know, it's not my decision.
03:18So that's all I'll leave it at, really.
03:20You know, so, you know, maybe the time's right, maybe it's not.
03:23I don't know, but, you know, I wish everyone the best in the future.
03:26And, you know, I'm very thankful for getting the opportunity.
03:30And I, you know, I got the opportunity by a chance, really.
03:36Graham Thorpe was supposed to be the coach
03:38and he unfortunately couldn't take up the role.
03:41I then got offered the job and took it with both hands.
03:45But at the same time, Graham was huge in my development as a coach
03:48and he gave me great opportunities at the ECB
03:51and had full faith and belief in me as a coach.
03:54So I have a lot to be thankful for him for this role.
03:57And, you know, so I'm here by chance.
04:00I gave it my all.
04:03I hope the players can see the love that I have for the game
04:06and the care that I have for them as players and as people.
04:11But not only that, the great joy for me in this job
04:14is being able to see the players develop off the field as well
04:20and lives change, not just on the field,
04:24but the ability for players to change their families' fortunes
04:28and trajectory as a family and as a group of people.
04:36So I think through this game we've been able to see that
04:39and to be able to play a small part in that is very satisfying.
04:44You know, forget the cricket side.
04:46Seeing guys, you know, equipping themselves and developing
04:50as young boys when I took over and developing into young men
04:56is something that is, you know, very worthwhile.
05:00Was it sort of very emotional over the last few days
05:02or through the course of the tournament for you?
05:06Yeah, I think so.
05:08I think I've caught myself at times where I just think
05:11we've been a little bit unlucky at times.
05:14I think obviously we'd love a centimetre or two
05:16against South Africa to get across the line
05:18and who knows how South Africa would have played
05:21the next game against New Zealand
05:22if we had won that game in normal time
05:25and not extra time as well.
05:27If we'd won it in extra time or the soup over.
05:30And, you know, everything could be a lot different.
05:32And I thought New Zealand, we gave a good count of ourselves.
05:37And, you know, if we'd, you know, sort of ball here or there
05:42and, you know, it could have been a very different,
05:44we had a great start.
05:44We had them 14 or 16 for two after Mujib's first over
05:47and it could have been a very different game.
05:49So we've played some very good cricket
05:51and we played good cricket against the West Indies
05:53in a series before and beat them.
05:57You know, so, you know, I'm very thankful for the opportunity
06:02and that's all I have to really say on that.
06:08John here, well done on your tenure with Afghanistan again.
06:11Just wanted to, I mean, I feel personally
06:13since when you joined 2022,
06:15Afghanistan has been a team, was a team of individuals
06:17and then like from there, now it has become
06:20to click as a group.
06:21I mean, I want to understand what has been your role
06:24and specifically however you work to get that together
06:26to make the team click as a unit.
06:28Well, I just think, and, you know,
06:32I could sit here and tell you so many stories
06:34of things that I've seen with my own eyes,
06:36but, you know, in the talent.
06:42Yeah.
06:49I said I didn't want to get upset.
06:51I just remember my first trip.
06:54I mean, we were in Ireland and I just saw things
06:57that just realised that these boys are so talented
06:59and focused.
07:00And if you get us to add a little bit of structure
07:02to the mindset, professionalism
07:05and the high standards that we hold ourselves to,
07:07not, you know, individuals,
07:10but we hold each other to those high standards
07:12and professionalism.
07:14You know, I remember seeing Ibra for the first time.
07:16I remember seeing Azmat for the first time.
07:18I remember seeing Gerbas for the first time
07:20and thinking what amazing players.
07:23Let's try and build on what we've got,
07:25this natural raw talent.
07:27Cool, thanks.
07:28And let's see where we can get to.
07:32You know, we had the names,
07:32Mujib, Nabi, Rashid, all these guys.
07:37But, you know, it's just one of those things.
07:40And I remember how chaotic that first tour is
07:42to where we are now is chalk and cheese.
07:44And, you know, the players, you know, need so much credit
07:50because the level they operate at
07:52and the advantages and the things that they're afforded
07:58as youngsters to develop their skills
08:00and their passion for the game,
08:01they operate at such a high level
08:03compared to what they afforded compared to other countries.
08:06But yet they can come on this stage and compete
08:08and almost people expect us to be in the semifinals and finals.
08:13Which I find, I find it amazing that they can do that,
08:17handle the pressure, but also the background
08:19and they don't have the sort of the day-to-day coaching
08:23that young players have, academies and facilities
08:26and all these things and schooling, you know.
08:29And so for me, you know, I look at these guys
08:32and I'm going out and I was thinking today
08:34and I'll be honest, I was sitting there now
08:35and some of these, unfortunately, education-wise,
08:39you know, if I hadn't have gone to schooling
08:40and hadn't gone to all the academies,
08:42hadn't gone to all the coaching sessions
08:43and had the upbringing that I was afforded,
08:46I'm not sure I'd be able to stand on that field
08:48in front of 20,000 people and understand
08:50and be able to know exactly how I felt
08:53and how I'd execute things.
08:55The amount of coaching I've had compared to the coaching
08:57that these guys are now operating in international levels
08:59is chalk and cheese, so, you know,
09:01I take my hat off to every single one of them
09:03and, you know, and so, for me,
09:08the level they operate will always amaze me
09:11and from watching from afar, I'll always, you know,
09:14be very fond and want the guys to do well.
09:18You say you take an average cricketer in India.
09:21Yes, right, go from under 14 level, under 19,
09:24and then play for Rungi Trophy, then India, yeah,
09:27and then finally India.
09:28Many of them from under 19 don't get to play for India at all.
09:32So, an operation without a structure there,
09:34that is in continuous chain of talent, sir.
09:36How do you judge talent?
09:38And how is the thing, how is the process that?
09:40Well, you see, you can see that they,
09:44and you think you see you've got all the attributes,
09:48you know, the natural gift of timing and technique
09:50or with bowling, you can see we've got two young,
09:53fast bowlers today who've got raw talent, raw pace,
09:56and just, if they were given a little bit more coaching,
09:58could probably be even quicker,
09:59given the right diet, exercise, training,
10:02and if that had been afforded to them
10:03from the age of 15, 14,
10:05and the education around that,
10:08you know, who knows, you know,
10:10where the players will end up hopefully one day,
10:12and hopefully the players do that,
10:13and the players will get that as, you know,
10:16as cricket develops, you know, in the country.
10:20So, I think it's amazing,
10:22and I've had such great laughs,
10:24and at times there's been frustrations, of course,
10:27but I've had such fun times,
10:29and I look back with great memories
10:32and be really proud of what we've been able to achieve.
10:34I just, the back of my mind is,
10:36we've just been so close in a few things.
10:39I just wish we'd got across the line, you know.
10:41I think back to the Wankiti Stadium against Australia,
10:4550-over game, you know, that game,
10:47and a few other things in Asia Cup matches,
10:52and obviously here against South Africa at Ahmedabad,
10:55you know, things have been very different,
10:56but I've been very fortunate enough to,
10:59with the players, to have had some great highs,
11:01and we've got some great memories,
11:02so hopefully the players can keep adding to those
11:05for themselves.
11:08Jonathan, what was the biggest challenge
11:10of coaching a side who can't even play at home,
11:15and a bunch of guys from tough background
11:19who are detached from their country,
11:23they don't spend much time in Afghanistan?
11:26Well, I think my job as coach
11:28is to show them that I care and have that empathy.
11:31I think it's such a big thing,
11:33and nothing is straightforward,
11:35and have an understanding.
11:36I think we have levels and standards as a side,
11:40but also understand the person
11:41and the background that the players come from.
11:44You know, and for me,
11:46it's been such a great education as a coach
11:47with regards to understanding different characters
11:49and those sorts of, you know,
11:51those sorts of nuances of coaching,
11:55and, you know, I think will always stick with me,
11:58so I'm very fortunate for that chance.
12:03But I think the guys are so resilient.
12:06I think, you know, they all have different stories,
12:10very different stories,
12:11and where they come from.
12:13And I think they, you know,
12:15being able to come and play for Afghanistan
12:17is a huge honor for them,
12:18and so it's not really that hard
12:19to get them motivated,
12:22get them, you know, understanding tactics
12:25and understanding the game
12:27and doing the basics day in, day out,
12:29which is very, sometimes,
12:31for some players, is very foreign
12:33because of the structure that they've come from.
12:35So to try and add this to, you know,
12:37these things to players
12:39is not as straightforward
12:41as perhaps for some other players
12:43that you would coach around the world.
12:44So that's been the great challenge,
12:48but also the great thing
12:51that when you see it start developing,
12:53you see guys have success.
12:55You know, as a coach,
12:56that's the most rewarding thing.
12:58It's not about how much money you earn
12:59or that sort of thing.
13:00When you see players developing
13:01and creating a career for themselves,
13:04that's the most rewarding thing
13:05as a career coach you can get,
13:08and that's, you know, why you coach.
13:12You know, there have been so many times
13:13I've left net sessions
13:15or training sessions
13:15and thought I really enjoyed that
13:17because I was able to coach
13:18and the players wanted to be coached.
13:20I don't think that happens
13:21everywhere around the world
13:22at the moment
13:23where players want to be coached every day.
13:25So as a coach, you know,
13:27that's a great feeling
13:28and to be able to play a small role
13:30in those players' development
13:31is a great feeling and a privilege.
13:35We've seen probably the,
13:38just to pick up on that,
13:39almost like there's been
13:40a little bit more personality
13:41shown in the Afghan group
13:42under your tenure,
13:43the Gulbuddin cramp,
13:45being in the sheds
13:46after that 2023
13:48Quikert World Cup win
13:49against England.
13:50Has it felt like
13:51because you guys are performing
13:53at a higher level
13:53and you're more comfortable,
13:54it's brought out that personality
13:56or has it been something
13:57that you've tried to encourage
13:59to kind of express themselves
14:01and to, you know,
14:02kind of show their individuality
14:03to the world?
14:04No, what I think is
14:06there's two tools to that
14:08and that I think
14:09they've always had that character
14:11but always maybe sometimes felt
14:12they don't belong at the party
14:14and that's the one thing
14:16I've always said to them.
14:17Whenever you come up
14:17against opposition,
14:18you look them in the eye
14:19and you take them on straight away.
14:21You know, whether it's here
14:22at the ground,
14:22whether it's at the hotel,
14:24whether it's wherever,
14:25you know, you stand up.
14:26You don't ever,
14:26you know, if you're in the lift
14:27with one of them in the hotel,
14:28you know, you don't ever think,
14:29or they're from a major
14:31test playing nation
14:32where we're inferior.
14:33You know, no,
14:34we take them on
14:34and I think the players
14:36have enjoyed that sort of
14:38someone encouraging them
14:39to be confident in themselves
14:42and also, you know,
14:44believing in them,
14:45having, you know,
14:47constantly saying,
14:48no, you are good enough
14:49to win every single game
14:50that you go up.
14:50No matter the conditions,
14:51you're good enough to win.
14:53The other side of that
14:54I'd say is
14:56what we're seeing now
14:58is
15:00the players
15:01balancing that
15:03expectations.
15:04That's been
15:05in the last year or so
15:07you've perhaps seen
15:08where you're not always
15:10underdogs,
15:10you're expected to win
15:11and that's a different mindset
15:12when you expect it to perform,
15:14when you expect it to win
15:16and finish games.
15:18That's been,
15:19that's the next step
15:20for this lot
15:20and we're starting
15:22to see those
15:24things happen.
15:26You know,
15:26after the South Africa defeat,
15:28you very easily
15:29could have folded
15:29against the UAE
15:30on a tricky pitch at Delhi
15:31and we got across
15:33the line there
15:34and I've often said
15:35to the players,
15:35you know,
15:35it's not being able
15:36to win route one,
15:38it's being able to win
15:39different kinds of ways
15:40or win ugly
15:41and that was a sort of
15:42ugly-ish win,
15:43if you like.
15:43It could have been
15:44a bit more straightforward
15:44but we found a way to win
15:46and that's,
15:47you know,
15:48when the sides can do that,
15:49they become dangerous
15:51so that's the next steps
15:52I believe for this group
15:53and being able to win
15:54different conditions
15:55and not just being able
15:57to bat first,
15:58put 200 on the board
15:58and throw the ball
15:59to the spinners
16:00so,
16:01which has been,
16:01it's probably been
16:02in the past.
16:05Hello coach,
16:05congrats on your time
16:06with Afghanistan.
16:08So what next
16:09in your coaching career?
16:10Is there a job
16:10that you would probably
16:12want to do sometime
16:13in the future,
16:14say England?
16:15Pardon?
16:16What next
16:16in your coaching career?
16:18I don't know,
16:19I'm not going to let you
16:20put words in my mouth
16:21but,
16:23you know,
16:25I've really enjoyed this
16:26and I,
16:26you know,
16:26it's,
16:27I don't know
16:28what the future holds.
16:29You know,
16:30I maybe,
16:32maybe have a couple
16:33of days off
16:33and see how it goes
16:35and I look forward
16:37to seeing how the rest
16:37of the World Cup goes.
16:38Gee,
16:39I wish we were still here
16:40and able to play
16:40in the next round.
16:43But yeah,
16:44you know,
16:44I am,
16:45you know,
16:46very proud of
16:47where I played
16:48my cricket
16:48and always like to see
16:49the England side
16:50do well.
16:51I would be lying.
16:52You know,
16:53I'd love to,
16:54you know,
16:54one day hopefully
16:56have the opportunity
16:56to coach,
16:58you know,
17:00a team that you hold
17:01so dear to your heart.
17:04You know,
17:04but,
17:05you know,
17:06there are a lot of people
17:07that I'm sure
17:07would love to do that job.
17:09So yeah,
17:10we'll have to see
17:11but I just want to be,
17:14you know,
17:16enjoying my coaching
17:18and,
17:19you know,
17:20I've certainly enjoyed,
17:22I've certainly enjoyed
17:23the last couple of years here
17:25or,
17:25you know,
17:25my tenure here
17:26has been ups and downs
17:27but I have some great memories.
17:30Cheers.
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