Jonathan Trott has taken charge of the England Lions, the team’s second string, and will lead its first tour under his coaching this month when the squad travels to the Caribbean. He regards the Lions as a formative stage in an England player’s development, drawing on his own experience with the side after an uncomfortable Twenty20 debut in 2007.
Trott says the Lions should combine player development with serious competition and winning. He wants younger players to value international cricket alongside franchise opportunities, while senior England players who have been left out or are struggling for form should also be able to return to the squad, work with experienced coaches and rebuild their games.
His approach is shaped partly by his own England career, which was disrupted by stress and overtraining before the 2013-14 Ashes. Trott says coaches must adjust the pressure they apply to different personalities, while keeping a close relationship with players and preserving a lighter side in training. He also wants the Lions to strengthen the next generation’s understanding of 50-over cricket.
Trott previously coached Afghanistan, a period he describes as challenging and rewarding. During his tenure, Afghanistan competed strongly at World Cups and defeated England at the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. He said helping players perform for their families and giving happiness to supporters made the role satisfying, despite the political pressures surrounding the team.
The Lions role gives Trott a chance to build relationships with England’s emerging players before any possible move into the senior job. That implication follows from his view that strong groundwork would make a future transition less like arriving among strangers, as happened when he first entered England’s setup.