Here is the full transcript of Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott’s press conference after their February 11 match against South Africa in Ahmedabad.
(Reporter:)
Your second double super over with Afghanistan in two years, your thoughts – Have you had time to process it?
(Jonathan Trott:)
Not really. It was of course a good game of cricket. He showed the type of cricket we can play, he is certainly chasing. And then to get that close in the first super over, I think the game ebbed and flowed and towards the end there were maybe a couple of mistakes on both sides. This will let the other side back in and if you should try to close it. That was pretty obvious. Then again, South Africa is a good side that can if you – but we’ve got some good players too. You know when we finished the second Super and they’re and we’re 0 for one from two balls and we’re still close. It just shows what we have as a party. So we’ve got some amazing players and it’s really devastating for the boys after a tough loss against New Zealand a few days ago and now against South Africa in a tough group. These guys are never afraid to take on the challenges they face throughout their lives on and off the field. So they should be very proud today and obviously these types of defeats can sometimes hurt and sting for a while, but I think it’s important that we look at the areas where we did really well, but also the areas where we could improve and the things we could have done better. I think South Africa actually did pretty well too. A run out, a couple of catches on the boundary, on the circle, things like that. I think they did really well. Maybe it was a little different today.
(Reporter:)
Can you tell us a bit about your strategy in these two super overs and like why Mohamed Nabi came in to bat at the start of the second and how you planned your bowling?
(Jonathan Trott:)
Well, we thought we saw that they were going to bowl spinner Rakesh, so Naby’s pretty good spin bowler just didn’t get it. I think you know we called – Gurbaaz is in good form, you know it’s one of those things.
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I mean myself guys, now you’ve obviously lost your second game and I know you’re done after this tournament. What was it like for you, your time in Afghanistan, and also your reflections on all that you have accomplished in however long a time?
(Jonathan Trott:)
I think it was a great picture. No, I think I’d rather talk about it when it’s done than now. We still have two important matches ahead of us. I think I respect the side, the work, but also the two games that we have coming up, which are also important. I don’t think it’s time to start talking about what, I’m not in a position, I’m still in a position, I’d like to make sure I get it right and we get it right against the UAE in Delhi. They are good and so are we, so we have to hope to finish with some good cricket and see what we come up with. Hopefully this group can surprise a few people and a few losses somewhere along the line and we’ll bounce back and we’ve got to stay positive and we’ve played a lot of cricket against the UAE in Dubai and Sharjah and we know each other quite well so it should be a good game.
(Reporter:)
(Reporter:)
Jonathan, you were born in South Africa at a time when the national team had a reputation for melting under pressure and I’m quite curious if you saw any signs of that happening, I know there obviously weren’t, but did you see any signs of that, panic among the South Africans?
(Jonathan Trott:)
No, I think they are a very good side. I spoke to Shukri, he coached me at the academy in 2001. I have nothing, obviously respect for the upbringing I had as a child, the school and education as a cricketer. I’ll never forget it, but of course whenever South Africa plays or I play against South Africa, I want to win. But if South Africa play someone other than England or the team I’m coaching like that – Yes, I want them to do well. So yeah, I said to Shukri, I think I’ve learned from it and hopefully they’ll iron out the things they want to fix. But that’s up to them to settle and I wish them all the best and they’re a very good side.
(Reporter:)
Gurbaz, he had a really good innings in the main and then he almost got you over the line there. He’s obviously one of your best players, he looked really gutted at the end. What do you think he’s going through right now and what can you do to support him and also know how important it is to him?
(Jonathan Trott:)
I think with Gurbaz I think it’s probably the best innings I’ve seen him play and unfortunately I couldn’t get us a bit closer or get us over the line there. So, how good, he’s great – he’s a really great and talented cricketer. And the innings we saw today, I think he should play more often to be honest with the amount of talent he has, the physicality and athleticism and natural hand-eye coordination. It’s just about moving forward, I think with him now, and just being able to process it. It will be a good challenge for him. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is quite an animated character. I think the years I’ve been with him now, I’m just trying to get him to be a little more consistent in everything he does. And we all saw today the types of innings he can play and the areas he can hit the balls in and how hard he can hit them. I think he should be a lot more consistent than he is, especially when you see innings like that and I’m looking forward to seeing how his future goes and everyone else.
(Reporter:)
There are a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in such games, but two years ago you came through a double super over against India. Are there any lessons to be learned from these games, or is it too random for you?
(Jonathan Trott:)
No, I think – I had a couple of super overs and I think as a coach you have to be clear about what you are doing. What happens is that when the game ends, there’s a lot of emotion, like there was, and then there’s a lot of information. I think you have to be clear, and we were clear. We were clear. And sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes, when you’re on the losing end, you think about what would happen if – This generally happens. So if it was another – it would be different, South Africa would be asking questions, but they get on the bus now with full points from their two games. That’s what happens in cricket. I’ve also found So it’s important now as a coach that we don’t lose sight of what we’ve accomplished here and the respect I think from the years I’ve been in charge. We have been able to gain respect throughout the cricketing world and community for the way we play the game and the talent of the players we have. And I think that’s a great thing.