Jonathan Trott has told Sky Sports News of his delight that his hard work has been rewarded with a Test debut.
Debutant relishing Oval challenge
Jonathan Trott has told
Sky Sports News of his delight that his hard work has been rewarded with a Test debut against Australia.
The Warwickshire batsman will bat at number four for the Ashes decider after national selector Geoff Miller revealed a 14-man squad on Sunday morning.
Ravi Bopara has been axed for The Oval clash following a string of failures in the series so far, with Trott, who averages 92.09 in first-class cricket this season, the preferred option.
Speaking to
Sky Sports News on his call-up and the prospect of taking on the Aussie bowlers, Trott said: "It has been a good few days and great to hear the news. I think any debut match is huge so I have picked a good one I think.
"I've chatted to Ian Bell a bit and watched the bowlers on TV and I will talk to Andy Flower and look at the technology we have on the bowlers and stuff - it should be fun.
"It will be interesting to see how I feel but I'm sure I'll be fine."
Tough
Off-spinner Monty Panesar has been included in place of Bopara in what is the only change of personnel from the fourth Test mauling at Headingley.
The Essex batsman averaged just 15 runs on his Ashes series debut, but Trott, who played two Twenty20 internationals for England in 2007 before being dropped, has backed the 24-year-old to bounce back.
"It's hard being left out, I got left out of the England side in 2007 after one or two games and it's tough and it's something you learn from but I'm sure he'll be back - he's a good player," Trott added.
Trott, 28, was handed a small taster of Test cricket at Headingley when he was named in the 14-man squad before being left out of the starting XI for the innings defeat.
And, after meeting all his team-mates ahead of the fourth Test, Trott is now relishing the opportunity to link-up with them again.
He said: "I went into the changing room last week and I felt really comfortable. The guys made me feel really welcome and I'm looking forward to batting with all of them, not just Ian.
Confidence
"The guys are in good spirits and now I can't wait to get down there, start training and I'm looking forward to the match."
Joining Trott in the England middle-order will be Warwickshire team-mate Bell after he retained his place in the squad despite scores of eight and three at Headingley.
The pair starred for their county in the recent LV County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston, Trott scoring 121 and Bell 126 during an eye-catching 178-run partnership.
And Trott is now hoping both players will take their recent form into the Ashes decider next week.
"I'm playing pretty good and me and Ian Bell got our heads down for a while - that was really pleasing and I'll take a lot of confidence from that into the game at The Oval and so will he," he said.
"When I was younger I probably tried to chase it (an England call) too much and outscore everyone else and try and get as many runs as I can. But now I worry about my own game and make sure my own game and mind is in order to hopefully one day get that opportunity."
