One might be England's most naturally gifted player of all time. Three helped England secure their first ever ICC title when they lifted the 2010 T20 World Cup. In the past 56 years, starting in 1966 with Basil D'Oliveira, up to the start of South Africa's current tour of England, as many as 19 South African-born cricketers have donned the Three Lions, across a cumulative 1702 matches. Then again, Trott and Pietersen are considered English cricketers, two of the best this millennium, but both were born and raised in South Africa. I suppose that was a big deal for some people.'ĭavis, it should be noted, was born in London but is listed on ESPNcricinfo as Australian. I suppose it was a little strange that no one born in England was actively involved in an England Test.

It's hard enough facing Morne Morkel when he's trying to knock your head off without other things to worry about. 'He wasn't telling me anything I hadn't considered before, but it obviously wasn't something I was thinking about at the time. 'I thought, bloody hell, he's right!' says Trott, recalling the brief moment where his thoughts were yanked away from matters of swing and seam to questions around identity and patriotism. 'You know, I'm not sure if you're aware,' Davis said out of the side of his mouth between deliveries, 'but I'm the only Englishman on the field right now.' Standing at the non-striker's end, Trott's laser focus was suddenly broken by umpire Steve Davis. The pair had come together on the final day at Centurion with England struggling at 27 for 3, 336 runs in arrears. 3 was batting alongside Kevin Pietersen in his team's second dig. It was only his second Test and England's new No. Something strange occurred during the first Test of England's tour of South Africa in 2009-10, but Jonathan Trott was the last to notice.

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