Jonathan Trott packed away his Afghanistan tracksuit on Friday evening, the side’s T20 World Cup exit doubling as the full stop on his three-and-a-half-year spell in charge. First things first, he says, is a break. The rest – including any talk of a job “so close to his heart” – can wait.
Afghanistan finished sixth at the 2023 50-over World Cup and reached the semi-finals of last year’s T20 edition, achievements that have nudged Trott’s name into more than one franchise notebook. Pretoria Capitals hired him for 2024-25, Gulf Giants did likewise for 2025-26, and there is understandable curiosity about whether an international board might be next.
England inevitably crop up, not least because Brendon McCullum’s position feels less concrete after an Ashes defeat and a patchy World Cup. Asked if he fancies the role, Trott smiled.
“I’m not going to let you put words in my mouth,” he replied, before adding that, “But, you know, I’ve really enjoyed this. I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I have a couple of days off and see how it goes. And I look forward to seeing how the rest of the World Cup goes. I wish we were still here and able to play in the next round.”
For now he will be an interested spectator rather than a participant. Ibrahim Zadran underlined what Trott has meant to the dressing-room, dedicating his player-of-the-match award against Canada to the outgoing coach.
“He’s opened our eyes to different methods,” a senior player said afterwards. “Sometimes the message was simple, sometimes quite blunt, but always clear.”
Trott’s own playing record offers plenty of credibility. Cape Town-born, Birmingham-honed, he averaged 44 in Tests and 51 in ODIs for England, lifted three Ashes urns – including the cherished 2010-11 success in Australia – and spent time as part of a side ranked No.1 in the world. That background still matters to him.
“I am very proud of the way I played my career, and always like to see the England side do well,” he said. “I’d love to one day, hopefully, have the opportunity to coach a team that you hold so dear to your heart. There are a lot of people that I’m sure would love to do that job. So yeah, we’ll have to see. But I just want to enjoy my coaching. And, you know, I’ve certainly enjoyed the last couple of years here.”
During three contract extensions Trott pushed Afghanistan towards greater adaptability, a point he repeated in his sign-off.
“I’ve often said to the players, it’s not being able to win route-one. It’s being able to win different kinds of ways, or win ugly.”
He would still like to see a deeper pace-bowling pool emerge by the 2027 World Cup – that tournament will be in South Africa, where harder surfaces reward seam. Yet he is quick to note batting strides, especially against high-class spin and at the death. Analysts such as Saba Karim praise Afghanistan’s improved strike-rotation, while coach Monty Desai lauds a fielding intensity that “signals a side starting to believe it belongs on the big stage”.
Trott’s next assignment, whatever badge sits on the polo-shirt, will demand similar clarity. The modern calendar is unforgiving; opportunities pop up, just as quickly they vanish. His own summary remains understated, almost deliberately plain.
“I’ve certainly enjoyed it,” he repeats, gathering his kit. A couple of days off, he might manage. After that, phones will ring.
