| Trott rejects claims by Michael Vaughan he celebrated with South Africa's players last year |
| Thursday, 22 October 2009 00:00 | |||
 Batsman Trott insisted he was just chatting to spin bowler and old friend Paul Harris minutes after South Africa's Test win at Edgbaston.Former skipper Vaughan walked past at that moment - and has now written in his autobiography that Trott was celebrating with opposition players and patting them on the back. Vaughan added: "It hit home what England has become like." The claims of divided allegiance are the last thing Cape Town-born Trott needs days before he flies to South Africa for his first big tour with England. Trott, whose father is English, explained: "Warwickshire finished a game at Leicester and myself, Neil Carter and Allan Donald raced back to Edgbaston because the Test looked like being a close finish. "We were standing between the changing rooms when both teams were on the field at the end. "I've known Paul Harris since I was 16 and we played together at Warwickshire. I just said something like, 'Cheers, well done on your victory.' "That was it. There was no high-fives or anything like that. "I knew I wouldn't be seeing Paul again that summer because he wasn't in the one-day squad so I wanted to wish him well. In fact, I've not seen him since. "But Michael Vaughan walked past at the same time to go to his Press conference. It was a misunderstanding, an unfortunate situation. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I respect Michael. I would never behave like that against the team I was trying to play for at the time - and now have the chance to play for. Allan Donald went into the South African changing room but I didn't go anywhere near. "In the previous match, I was on 12th-man duty at Headingley and was upset when England lost that match. I was also upset they lost at Edgbaston. "I know most of the South African players - I played with Graeme Smith for South Africa Under-19s for two years. "A big thing for me in cricket is to play hard on the field and be friends off it. But it's unfortunate this has come out a few days before we leave on tour." Trott, 28, is certain to run a verbal gauntlet when he returns to the country of his birth this winter - just like Kevin Pietersen has in the past. The Warwickshire ace added: "I'm not sure how much flak I'll get from the crowds - I expect we'll all get some flak. "I'm completely committed to England now. It's not like I take my money and put it into a South African bank account. "I've lived here for seven seasons and contributed to Warwickshire and now I'd like to contribute to a successful England side." JONATHAN TROTT is supported by Metlife and will have their logo on his bat during the tour of South Africa.
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