Thaindian News

London, Aug.26 (ANI): The signed England shirt and cricket stump will not be the only mementoes on the walls of Jonathan Trott’s Birmingham home.They will be given equal billing alongside his other most-prized sporting possession, his autographed Tottenham top from manager Harry Redknapp.Trott, whose brilliantly assured second-innings century on his Test debut helped lay the foundations for the triumph, is not just a cricket lover - he’s a Spurs nut.

And he was gobsmacked that Redknapp, boss of the current Premier League leaders, sent him a shirt as a wedding present when he tied the knot with Abi in April.Trott said: “The shirt says ‘To Trotty, Up the Spurs, Harry Redknapp’. Then there’s a card from him which says ‘To Trotty. Have a Great Day’.

“I love Spurs, I’m a massive fan and it would be fantastic if they could get into the Champions League to go with us winning The Ashes.

“Even during the Test on Sunday, I caught the TV at lunchtime and checked on the Spurs line-up for the game against West Ham, just to make sure Harry got it right. I wanted to know the final score while I was fielding but I never did and only found out after we had won The Ashes.”

Trott now looks a certainty to make England’s tour to South Africa having proved how cool he is under pressure - despite Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting’s claim he could crumble.

His Spurs allegiance was passed on from his English-born dad Ian and, growing up in Cape Town, he never missed coverage of them.

“I had loads of pictures on my wall and I’ve got tons of old Spurs shirts. I used to walk round with ‘Sheringham’ on my back. The first time I saw Spurs live was at Birmingham in 2003. I was in the Spurs end, we lost 1-0 to David Dunn penalty.

Despite being born and schooled in South Africa, Trott considers himself a proper Englishman.

He added: “I had a British passport from birth and can remember travelling to England in 1996 with the South African Under-15 side.

“Everyone else needed a visa and I just walked straight in. Mind you, I had more trouble getting back into South Africa than anyone else.

“My dad was born in England, my parents live in Surrey and my uncle and granddad live in Kent.

“I didn’t come here as a young guy just to try and take the cash back to South Africa. My home is in Birmingham, I’m an adopted Brummie and I’m very proud.”

Trott’s favourite memory of the triumph is not actually his ton.

He added: “For the rest of my life I’ll remember fielding at deep point to Michael Hussey when he hit it to Andrew Flintoff.

“I had a perfect view. Freddie’s direct hit was phenomenal and to run out Ricky Ponting was the defining moment of the game.” (ANI)