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India game gave us a bit of confidence, says Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott – Times of India
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NEW DELHI: In the midst of a compelling World Cup campaign, Afghanistan’s cricket team is gaining confidence despite a recent loss to India. Head coach Jonathan Trott sees this defeat as a pivotal moment, affirming that his squad is starting to believe they can win and dominate games.
Enjoying their best-ever World Cup performance, Afghanistan have notched up impressive victories over three former champions – England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – along with a resounding win over the Netherlands.Their remarkable journey has kept their hopes of reaching the semifinals alive.
Reflecting on the team’s recent loss to India, Trott noted, “I think we saw a bit of form coming into the side against India. Obviously, we lost the game but then that gave us a bit of confidence.” He stressed the importance of building self-assurance, particularly following a string of narrow defeats leading up to the tournament.
Despite underwhelming performances against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Afghanistan’s batsmen rebounded by posting a competitive total of 272 against India. Trott explained, “We just need to start 1-1 or 2 and we’ll get that confidence and belief and a bit of a spring in our step and that we can win those close games but also dominate games if we get the opportunity to.”
Sitting just outside the top 4 in fifth place, Afghanistan’s remaining fixtures include clashes against in-form Australia and South Africa. Trott acknowledged the need for improvement in their upcoming match against Australia in Mumbai but also highlighted several positive aspects of their performance. He stated, “Plenty to work on but also plenty to be pleased about.”
A key strength of the Afghan team lies in their adaptable bowling strategy. Trott noted, “We’re lucky to have the quality of players to choose from. A lot of teams, you don’t have the option of playing four spinners, or the quality of the four spinners.” He emphasized the importance of flexibility in a tournament as long as the World Cup and commended the team’s ability to adjust their approach based on the conditions.
Trott also praised the players’ resilience and positive mindset, with a specific mention of Noor Ahmad, who displayed a strong attitude after not playing in a previous match. The coach stressed the importance of learning from disappointments and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise.
The Afghan team enjoys substantial support from their fans, with a few players participating in the IPL, which has garnered them a following. Trott also attributed the team’s growing fan base to their exciting style of play. He concluded, “I can’t put a finger on why they like the Afghan boys. I think they’re fantastic cricketers and probably playing some good cricket. And that’s why fans are supporting them and watching them.”
(With inputs from PTI)
Enjoying their best-ever World Cup performance, Afghanistan have notched up impressive victories over three former champions – England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – along with a resounding win over the Netherlands.Their remarkable journey has kept their hopes of reaching the semifinals alive.
Reflecting on the team’s recent loss to India, Trott noted, “I think we saw a bit of form coming into the side against India. Obviously, we lost the game but then that gave us a bit of confidence.” He stressed the importance of building self-assurance, particularly following a string of narrow defeats leading up to the tournament.
Despite underwhelming performances against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Afghanistan’s batsmen rebounded by posting a competitive total of 272 against India. Trott explained, “We just need to start 1-1 or 2 and we’ll get that confidence and belief and a bit of a spring in our step and that we can win those close games but also dominate games if we get the opportunity to.”
Sitting just outside the top 4 in fifth place, Afghanistan’s remaining fixtures include clashes against in-form Australia and South Africa. Trott acknowledged the need for improvement in their upcoming match against Australia in Mumbai but also highlighted several positive aspects of their performance. He stated, “Plenty to work on but also plenty to be pleased about.”
A key strength of the Afghan team lies in their adaptable bowling strategy. Trott noted, “We’re lucky to have the quality of players to choose from. A lot of teams, you don’t have the option of playing four spinners, or the quality of the four spinners.” He emphasized the importance of flexibility in a tournament as long as the World Cup and commended the team’s ability to adjust their approach based on the conditions.
Trott also praised the players’ resilience and positive mindset, with a specific mention of Noor Ahmad, who displayed a strong attitude after not playing in a previous match. The coach stressed the importance of learning from disappointments and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise.
The Afghan team enjoys substantial support from their fans, with a few players participating in the IPL, which has garnered them a following. Trott also attributed the team’s growing fan base to their exciting style of play. He concluded, “I can’t put a finger on why they like the Afghan boys. I think they’re fantastic cricketers and probably playing some good cricket. And that’s why fans are supporting them and watching them.”
(With inputs from PTI)
