Jonathan Trott starts as England Lions head coach from Dubai, prepares Caribbean tour and urges players to 'be smart'

Jonathan Trott spoke from Dubai on 10 October 2026 as he began duties as head coach of England’s Lions and prepared to lead the side on a Caribbean tour departing this month, urging his players to "be smart".

Trott framed the Lions as a formative stage in his own career, recalling his Test debut century at the Oval in 2009 and earlier T20 appearances in 2007 when he scored nine and two. He highlighted how two years with the Lions — including matches in the Duleep Trophy in India, fixtures against touring sides and a full tour of New Zealand — eased his transition into the Test team. His playing career produced more than 20,000 runs and nine Test centuries, and he described the Lions phase as pivotal: "For me, the Lions was huge."

Trott said the Lions appointment followed his interview for the recent Test vacancy, which was awarded to Stephen Fleming, and that his performance during that process led to a winter-long role with the Lions on tours of the Caribbean, South Africa and Sri Lanka. He indicated there is scope for the role to extend into next summer when the schedule is less busy and said there is potential for additional work, with the vacant head coach role at Birmingham Phoenix a rumoured possibility given his ties to Edgbaston.

Trott set out a clear performance expectation for the Lions, saying: "I want the Lions to focus on winning and performing whenever you wear the three lions of England, so it’s second nature when you put on the main cap; that you are expected to perform your role. It’s not just about enhancing your game, it’s serious cricket. Because winning is a habit and a mentality." He contrasted national-team incentives with franchise cricket in another direct remark: "Players, especially younger players, get attracted by the bright lights of the franchise stuff but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as rewarding as playing for your national side. And, shoot me if I’m wrong, but I’ve recently started to notice more players migrating back to international cricket for that sense of satisfaction."

He described influences on his coaching outlook, naming Andy Flower, Ashley Giles, his father Ian, Bob Woolmer and John Inverarity, and credited Flower with helping him into coaching after playing, "first with the Lions and then at Trent Rockets in the Hundred. I have gone on to do my own thing but I can always call him up for advice." Trott also recalled a lighter exchange about Flower's Bavarian training camp with a line of humour: "Whenever I see Andy and he talks about that training camp, I say: 'That’s great, but your two leading run-scorers weren’t there.' 'Maybe if no one had gone on it that series would have gone even better'."

On the balance between challenge and care, Trott referenced his own experience with stress and overtraining during the run-up to the 2013-14 Ashes and described how that shapes his coaching decisions: "I got things right and also I got things wrong. And as a coach, you get a feel for it. There will be times when I tell my coaching staff to put the guys under pressure but also when you need to make them feel good about themselves. You have to judge the personality and traits of a team." He also stressed developing players' one-day skills and noted a change in the domestic pathway, saying his own career path of "about 20 List A matches per summer" no longer exists for many white-ball players with the Hundred sitting on top of the Metro Bank Cup.

Trott reflected on his four-year spell as Afghanistan head coach with evident pride, saying: "I’m very proud of that period, competing well at World Cups and beating England twice [in the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy]. The guys aren’t just playing for themselves but also their families. There is a lot of pressure on them to provide. That’s their way of life. To help them realise their talent and maybe give them the belief they might not have had was satisfying." He reiterated his immediate task with the Lions and the tangible next step: the first Lions tour departs for the Caribbean this month, and he added that "If I do get the chance to coach England one day, it will make it easier to pick up rather than coming in from the cold."