By Paul Newman
Who is England's new batsman in the Headingley Test squad?
Good question. The selectors have ignored the claims of the likes of Rob Key, Owais Shah, Joe Denly and Stephen Moore and gone for 28-year-old Jonathan Trott.
I'm not sure he was thought of by many as an England Test player before now. Maybe that's because he's South African.
'I'm not sure he was thought of by many as an England Test player before now' Since when has that been an obstacle to England selection?
Trott has followed a similar career path to Kevin Pietersen and will join KP and Matt Prior as South African-raised players in the senior England set-up.
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So what's his background then?
Trott was born in Cape Town and played first-class cricket for Boland and Western Province. He played for South Africa's Under-15 and Under-19 World Cup sides and also represented their A team before making his life in England seven years ago.
Cut him in half and he bleeds red, white and blue then?
Dad Ian was born in England and is a cricket coach in Leatherhead. So young Jonathan has a British passport but had to serve a four-year qualification period - a la Pietersen - before becoming eligible for England in 2007.
Soon after qualifying he was picked in England's one-day squad but played only in two Twenty20 games before disappearing off the radar again.
Doesn't he have an illustrious cricket heritage?
You are on to something there. He is related to Albert and Harry Trott, brothers who played Test cricket in the late 19th century.
So he does have an English Test pedigree?
Er, not exactly. Harry played 24 Tests for Australia, but at least good old Uncle Albert Trott played for Australia and England.
He sounds like something out of Only Fools and Horses. Jonathan must be proud of his distinguished relatives?
It's a complete mystery to him.
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