Jonathan Trott is saddened but far from shocked at fellow England batsman Kevin Pietersen’s decision to retire from limited overs international cricket.
Pietersen had indicated he wanted to help England retain the World Twenty20 title he did so much to help them win in the Caribbean two years ago when they defend their title in Sri Lanka later this year. But with England insisting players must make themselves available for both 50-over one-day internationals and Twenty20 contests — in part to ensure there isn’t a mass exodus from the longer format in an increasingly packed schedule — Pietersen announced his retirement from all limited overs contests last week.
It means England will be without one of their best batsmen in all but Test cricket from now on, despite it being just over three months ago since he scored back-to-back hundreds in England’s 4-0 one-day series sweep of Pakistan.
But as Trott prepared to play alongside Pietersen at Edgbaston, where England will try to complete a 3-0 Test series win over the West Indies, he said he had not been taken unawares by his fellow South Africa-born batsman’s decision.
“It wasn’t a huge surprise,” Trott said Tuesday. “You can understand it in a way, but it’s a huge disappointment as well, ” added Trott “Kev’s his own guy and has to make his own decisions. The team fully support his decision. Whatever he decides to do with his cricketing career is fine.”