They fell away quickly on day 4, however had had 9 wickets in hand in a single day, and had been solely 43 runs from establishing a lead.
“That is our eighth Check as a nation, and this yr Sri Lanka play ten Exams,” Trott mentioned after the match. “In the meanwhile, you see in the T20 and ODI codecs, the extra we get to play the higher, and the larger pool of expertise we are able to choose from. However for us to return right here and go neck and neck with Sri Lanka, and yesterday dominate the day, exhibits promising indicators for the longer term.”
“There are a variety of different gamers we are able to name upon to play Check cricket, however they’re all nonetheless taking part in the leagues,” Trott mentioned. “I feel Sri Lanka faces the identical points. So do all cricketing the nations. It is about when these Exams are performed and the provision of gamers, and if the gamers really feel just like the stability between leagues and taking part in for the nationwide facet is.
“It is a double-edged sword, however I want to have a full batch of gamers to have the ability to choose from. Hopefully for Eire [whom Afghanistan play in a one-off Test beginning February 28], we are able to get that proper.
“It is a good instance for the remainder of the gamers of Afghanistan – the requirements of Check cricket, and the health you could name upon. The best way that he trains is second to none, and he is a fantastic ambassador for the sport, and the nation”
Jonathan Trott on Ibrahim Zadran
“Cricketers have a brief window in their careers, and they’re attempting to set themselves up and looking for the best stability in phrases of nation and league. The extra money there may be in Check cricket the extra enticing it will be for youthful gamers. That is my one worry, that youthful gamers aren’t going to see it as a path to taking part in. Check cricket is so distinctive. It is such a disgrace if that is not protected and nurtured as a lot as potential.”
On the Check itself, Trott poured substantial reward on Ibrahim, whose 114 was the centrepiece of an Afghanistan second innings that prevented them from being fully blown away in this match. This was the fourth Check hundred from an Afghanistan batter, and the primary from certainly one of their youthful batters – Ibrahim is 22.
“Yesterday, he spent the entire day in the sector,” Trott mentioned of Ibrahim. “He fielded in the morning on the third day of a Check with humidity and the temperature near 40 levels. However then additionally the psychological power it takes as properly – getting nought in the primary innings, and then with the ability to subject for 100-plus overs, and then with the ability to spend the period of time he did on the crease is credit score to him as a teen.
“It is a good instance for the remainder of the gamers of Afghanistan – the requirements of Check cricket, and the health you could name upon. The best way that he trains is second to none, and he is a fantastic ambassador for the sport, and the nation.”
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior author at ESPNcricinfo. @afidelf
