Trott shows Pietersen how to make an impression
His idiosyncrasies (or irritations, depending on your point of view) have not disappeared, but the Bangladesh A players seemed less annoyed than South Africa’s. Trott still fiddles at the crease and spends an age marking out that curious line of his that stretches a yard or two down the pitch from leg stump. But somehow the pace of the game is slower here, the Bangladeshi players calmer, and so his mannerisms were less grating.
A trip to Bangladesh should have got feet and bat and mind back in rhythm, but so far we have seen nothing but a troubled man. The first Test against Bangladesh begins on Friday. Not a walk in the park, but a serious test of technique and inner strength.
The trouble is, if he doesn't get out poking around like an old lady at a church fete he gets out playing an expansive shot, which is exactly what happened when he was bowled by part-timer Mohammad Ashraful on Wednesday. Which, exactly, is the more pernicious mode of dismissal?
Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo