Jonathan Trott: It can’t get any worse after such a poor start

England made a catastrophic start to their Test series in New Zealand today. After being bowled out for 167 on a benign pitch, they were further embarrassed when their opponents responded with 131 without loss.

At least there were no excuses coming from the tourists’ dressing room. England have made a series of poor starts in away series in the last two years.

Their top scorer, Standard Sport columnist Jonathan Trott, said: “I don’t think it’s a lack of effort, we made a conscious effort to try to start the series really well. We tried to correct it but we just didn’t get it right. It was really bad and you can’t get away from the fact.”

England were in trouble almost from the beginning of their innings and only an eighth-wicket stand of 47 between Jimmy Anderson and Steve Finn prevented a much lower score.

Asked how the team would deal with it, Trott said: “It can’t get any worse but there is no place for feeling sorry for ourselves or thinking we didn’t get the rub of the green because you earn that in cricket.

“You have got to earn the right to put the opposition under pressure. We put ourselves under pressure with a poor performance with the bat.”