Trott named permanent England Lions head coach after Afghanistan exit

Trott returns to England set-up after Afghanistan stint

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Monday (September 21) that former England batter Jonathan Trott has been appointed as the permanent head coach of the England Lions for the upcoming winter schedule.

Jonathan Trott, newly appointed England Lions head coach

The 45-year-old stepped down from his position as Afghanistan head coach at the end of their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. During his four-year tenure from 2022, Trott guided Afghanistan to a historic first-ever Men's T20 World Cup semifinal appearance in 2024.

Trott previously served as an assistant coach with the England men's team during the COVID-19 pandemic, and last week stood in as England Lions head coach for their 2-0 T20 series victory against Sri Lanka.

He will now take permanent charge of the Lions for a busy winter that includes tours of the Caribbean, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

'Outstanding coach' — Barney

ECB Men's Performance Director Ed Barney welcomed the appointment. "Jonathan Trott is an outstanding coach who has a proven record in international cricket," Barney said. "We are delighted that he has agreed to lead our Lions programme during a busy winter."

Barney added detail on the programme's focus: "This winter's Lions schedule has a 50-over focus across three tours as we look to prepare the next-in-line players for one-day international cricket. Alongside this, we have some key red-ball fixtures which will continue to provide opportunities to excel on the world stage whilst develop a broad skill set."

"Jonathan's coaching expertise, and as a former England player who knows the value of the Lions programme having come through it himself, will be invaluable for those players as they look to progress their careers," Barney said.

Trott's playing pedigree

A three-time Ashes winner, Trott appeared in 52 Tests and made 75 white-ball appearances for England. Expressing his delight at the return, Trott said: "I'm delighted to be back working in the England set-up and hugely excited to take on the role of Head Coach of the England Lions."

"Having played for the Lions myself, I know how valuable the experience can be in helping players develop, both on and off the field, and it played an important part in my own journey."

"I'm really looking forward to working with the players and staff, helping them fulfil their potential and preparing them for the demands of international cricket," he added.