Jonathan Trott appointed England Lions head coach for winter programme

London, 21 September 2026: Former England batter Jonathan Trott has been appointed head coach of the England Lions for their upcoming winter programme, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced today.

The 45-year-old will oversee a busy schedule featuring tours of the West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka, with the programme placing a particular emphasis on developing players for 50-over international cricket.

Trott returns to the England set-up after spending four years as Afghanistan’s head coach from 2022. During his tenure, Afghanistan made significant progress on the international stage, highlighted by their historic run to the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024.

He also has previous experience within the England coaching system, having worked as an assistant coach with the senior men's side during the Covid-19 period.

More recently, Trott took temporary charge of the Lions for their T20 series against Sri Lanka, guiding the side to a 2-0 series victory. He will now remain in the role on a permanent basis for the winter.

ECB Men’s Performance Director Ed Barney said Trott’s experience both as an international coach and former England player made him well suited to the role.

“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 said the upcoming schedule had been designed to provide England’s emerging players with greater exposure to both white-ball and red-ball cricket, with a particular focus on building depth for the one-day international side.

Trott, who played 52 Tests and 75 limited-overs internationals for England, said he was pleased to return to the national set-up.

“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,” Trott said.

Having represented the Lions during his own playing career, Trott said he understood the importance of the programme in helping players make the transition towards senior international cricket.

He added that his focus would be on helping the next generation develop their games and prepare for the demands of international cricket.

Trott enjoyed a successful playing career with England and was part of three Ashes-winning squads.

England Lions winter schedule:

27 October – 21 November 2026: T20 and ODI series in the West Indies 25 November – 23 December 2026: ODI and first-class series in South Africa 18 February – 14 March 2027: ODI and first-class series in Sri Lanka