30 October - Pune - Afghanistan Head Coach Jonathan Trott post-match press conference
[Reporter:]
My question for you is from the start of this year until the World Cup commenced, Afghanistan's top five didn't really have that many impressive numbers. Say, Ibrahims average of 47.8 was the highest, and the next best was 34 and odd. So now with 650 plus scores in consecutive games, big partnerships, what has led about this transformation?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think we've been working really hard at our batting and doing the basics. I know it's very cliche, but the way that we train, the way we think about our cricket, certainly with batting, the way that we accept responsibility at times as well, I think you're starting to see hopefully not the penny drop, but we're starting to see also the confidence in the players, in their own ability. There's such an amount of talent, and just given a bit of structure or given a bit of a game plan, understanding what makes them the best players that they can be, A, tactically wise, but also the way that they train and they think about themselves and the way that they think about training and how they go about it.
And so, when it comes to match day, it’s not just sort of rock up and it's left to luck. It's sort of, no, I'm here and I'm in good form and I'm ready to play and I deserve to score runs. And I think hopefully we've seen that and the guys can take this from this tournament and take it also into the next, the important games coming up.
[Reporter:]
And how were those whiteboard targets? You were well ahead this time when the match got over. So, your thoughts on that and how do those targets work when you're batting first?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think when it's batting first, it's a little bit different. I think it's more a case of communication and the targets will change. When it's chasing, the target obviously never changes, unless it's Duckworth Lewis, obviously.
So, there's a bit more focus with regards to breaking it down into smaller targets. But sometimes, certainly like the Pakistan game, chasing 280 and starting on 0, it's a long way away. But if you break it down, it seems a lot more manageable.
So those sorts of things, little things, you know, motivating the players and keeping them in touch with where we want to be. And it's also a feel-good factor. If you know you're on the right track, it's also a nice feeling as well. But for batting first, obviously, you see how you go. You know, most games, there's over 300 as your average. So, we don't want to limit the guys on what they can do batting first. We want them to assess the conditions and make sure we go out there and get as many as we can. So, it just worked out that we chased today.
[Reporter:]
You opted to bowl first today, one of the wickets which is known to support batters more than the bowlers. Getting comfortable with the idea of chasing now and how do you look at it, the two successful chases, how do you look at it going forward in the tournament?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think you've got to look at the conditions and you've got to look at the pitch and what suits our team. I think for us spinners always to bowl with a dry ball is always going to be crucial and getting a bit of turn. We saw the way Noor bowled last game and the wickets he got. So, we're very lucky in that we got options to be able to select for quite different conditions, but also different conditions when it comes to weather and the effect that the weather has on the pitch and the outfield. So, nobody’s got 100 yet, so that's the next challenge. Someone accepting responsibility and batting for a longer period of time and make sure we get 100s. We see a lot of 100s scored in the tournament. That's the next frontier, the next barrack. Gurbaz has scored a few 100s recently and Ibrahim, it's about the middle order, 3, 4, 5, 6, being able to score hundreds as well.
So that's the next challenge. And I have absolutely no doubt that the players will be able to in the future. And hopefully it starts in the next game.
[Reporter:]
Just in terms of the psychology of chasing, I mean, you've mentioned about your whiteboard and the tactics there, but we've seen with a team like South Africa, for example, who can bet so strongly up front and then sometimes the chasing, it just gets in your head. Like what sort of mental work do you have to do, if any, to just get players ready to chase?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think in this day and age - my generation or generation before me, you always think with coaching players, you always coach them to expand their games and push the boundaries with regards to how quickly they can score. I think with a side like we are, growing up having played T20, it's actually almost the other way around where we saw two in-batters there in the last 10 overs and how quickly we scored. We scored 40-odd runs in five overs in the last 10.
I can't remember exactly what the stats are, but it was close enough to that. Those sorts of things, those positive messages - take responsibility when you're in the middle, make sure you win the last 10 overs and it's amazing how quickly you can score. But just playing good cricket shots and we have very talented T20 players. And again, giving them a bit of, it's okay to go at 6 and 7 and over. You don't have to go at 15, 16 and over. And at times they do. Naturally, they score that quickly anyway. So, it's really exciting to see. And I'm really chuffed for the guys in the changing room and it's a great feeling for all the other coaches as well to come to World Cup and be playing some nice cricket.
[Reporter:]
If I could ask about the support staff that's been preparing them for the way they're delivering right now and executing, the mix that you have of some international staff who haven't even been to the country, including yourself. And then a couple assistants that you have who have been pillars of the Afghan cricket history. In terms of the way that mix has helped prepare them and communicate with them and sort of build on the story of the Afghan cricket, how helpful has that been in reaching this moment?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think it's important you know you get the blend right and the combination but also the characters have got to be you know the right characters for the dressing room. So that's the most important thing with regards to coaching and players as well, you know, creating and breeding the right players and having the right culture that creates players that can perform under pressure.
So, it's a mixture of putting the players, you know, through their paces of training, making sure that they're ready for a match and training really hard. So that playing the match can sometimes feel a little bit easier than practice, we make it a bit tougher.
So certainly, under no illusions, we need to keep working at our fielding and get our catching right. And also, you know, at other stages like today, where we saw, are we taking wickets through the middle? I think sometimes we can continue to do that a little bit better.
And I thought we got the field placing pretty spot on today. So, there's always little areas to work on that all the coaches help with. Going to the mixing pot and we have meetings now and again, but it's also not just about communication, it's the relationships with the players and also the language and communicating that.
As a management, it's important that you know local coaches, Afghan coaches as well. So, getting that mixture and that combination of who's ready to coach the international stage, so they can take the lesson to Afghanistan and help grow and nurture the players coming through. So that's what I'm always for and getting that combination right.
[Reporter:]
So, talking about Omar Zai, given that he's been improving game after game in Azmatullah Omar Zai, so since we've seen him improving game after game in both facets of play, are there any conversations about giving him the new ball at some stage?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, yeah. I had that chat in a previous game. I'm not going to say which game. I thought it would be a good time. But we didn't go with it. But I thought he bowled really well today. His first two overs with three runs. Picked up an important wicket as well, breakthrough.
I think he's a fantastic player. I think as far as talent goes, he works really hard, he's a fit boy, a good athlete and catches as well. So, I think for him, the sky's the limit. We've got some really talented young players and it's really exciting to see.
That's what he wants to do in the game. I think he's got that type of character as well. And whenever you see a guy like him do well, it always makes you feel good because you're so happy for him. And he's so chuffed to be able to hit the winning runs for Afghanistan and be the world to him. Would have been nice if it wasn't a chance, but I'll be mentioning that to him later. But I thought of the way that he played and a natural striker of the cricket ball, I haven't seen many better. So, yeah, really happy he's in our side.
[Reporter:]
Going back to the batting group bit, you spoke about making them realise to own up and the transformation from T20s to ODIs. Saying all this is actually one thing and delivering the same at the biggest stage is another. I'm not asking you to reveal the trade secret, but if you can just elaborate on how actually you made it happen. What is that one thing that has actually worked with the batting group, if at all you can pinpoint on?
[Jonathan Trott:]
There are a lot of things. I think for me, it's about creating a culture, training with the players, feel like they can grow and develop their technique, but also the mental side of the game. As we know, cricket is such a mental game. So, I try and create with the other coaches all the time, how can we make the practice better or tougher for them so that when it comes to playing the game, it feels similar.
How can we recreate the pressure of a match? And there are times where you need to take your foot off a little bit and build the confidence, but it's again, I always feel if you walk out of a tough net having played really well, that gives you more confidence than somebody throwing you a few half volleys or a few cut shots.
I think the players and I hope that they realise the strides they've made in these matches but also there's still extra room to be done with bat, ball, and in the field. So, there's still three games to go. But we'll certainly enjoy tonight's victory against a very good Sri Lankan side who recently won the T20 Asia Cup. They were in the final of the Asia Cup. So really happy. And we move on to Lucknow tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
First of all, Ajay Jadeja said this before Afghanistan's match against India that they've been playing just for 20 years, other teams are playing for 100 years, and look at them right now. In this World Cup alone, you have beaten three sides that are previous champions. Since start of the World Cup for you, how much of a growth that you have seen in this team that probably take forward the 20 years of the foundation that has happened for this team?
[Jonathan Trott:]
Well, I think you always see teams you sort of start progressing, but it's just getting over the line and the confidence of winning. You know, we've been so close, the Asia Cup, we got eliminated` in, very unfortunate circumstances. We were so close. We chased down that 290 in 37 overs - overs, or 290 in 37 overs against Sri Lanka. Before that we played a series against Pakistan where we should have won a few games there. So, we've been so close. And I remember saying before the World Cup, we just got to win a few close games and just get that belief. But also, the belief in themselves as a player, but also belief in their methods as individuals, but also as a team, all 11 out on the field. So, really tough, but it's something we've got to look after. You know, Netherlands is our next game. They've played really well so far and it's going to be a good, tough game against them. So, every game from here on in is, it's a World Cup, it is tough. All games are tough, no matter who you play against. So, looking forward to the flight tomorrow and preparing for the Netherlands.
[Reporter:]
Just a follow-up on this one, when you look at it in a way that you have defeated three sides that have won the World Cup before. Does it weigh on, is it like a proud moment or is it just another game in the World Cup for the team?
[Jonathan Trott:]
I think so. You always take the positives from it. You take it and keep it for when you're under pressure. The matches, the way that we played against Pakistan, the way we played tonight, with the bat, but also then defending against England, at Delhi. So, with bat and ball, take the confidence from those. So, no matter what we're doing, whether it's batting or bowling first, we take a lot of confidence from that. But it's important that we again, every game, and that's the beauty of cricket, I say to the players, the beauty of cricket is if you're playing well, the challenge then is to back it up the next game. The beauty of it is, is if you lose the previous game, you have another chance to rectify it the next game. So, the challenge for us is going to be able to start again against the Netherlands at 0-0.