Jonathan Trott backs England aggression but asks for Ashes series to be less "matey"

"I don't think I ever hugged an Australian after a Test match," Trott said on The Cricketer Podcast. Not known as a gung-ho cricketer during his successful career, Trott believes this England team have earned the right to play their own game

Jonathan Trott has defended England's aggressive tactics in the first Ashes Test, but voiced concern about a "matey" culture between the two teams on the pitch.

England captain Ben Stokes has been criticised for his early first-innings declaration, while the shot selection of some of the home side has also come under the spotlight following the dramatic two-wicket loss.

Trott, not known as a gung-ho cricketer during his successful career, believes this England team have earned the right to play their own game. 

On episode three of the brand new The Cricketer Podcast, he said: "That is the difference between looking like a genius and a bit of criticism... the result. When you do things like that, which are against the norm, you are always going to be scrutinised. It's always going to be played out again once you have a result.

"That rivalry has to be there, that hatred for one another on the pitch. I was a little surprised how much chatting and joking and smiling there was between players"

"If England had won the game, it would have been brilliant. It would have looked revolutionary; it would have been taking the game forward.

"Now it has been scrutinised as them getting ahead of themselves. I still believe we are going to see more and more of these things, you are going to have to accept that. If you are going to accept the success England have had over the previous series in the last year or so, you have to take these things on the chin as well. They are not going to work out all the time.

"It's refreshing for the game and brilliant to watch."

"When England are trying to win matches of cricket, I'm always supportive of it. I think that's brilliant. I'm always upset when England don't do well, and I would always try to find something which could help fix that. At the moment, with the way they are playing I think they are entitled to how they are going about things.

"If I said to you when Brendon McCullum took over they would win every single match bar two up until now, you'd have said I was absolutely barmy. All England fans would have snapped your hand off and all neutrals would have said there's absolutely no chance.

^{England were beaten by two wickets in the opening Ashes Test [Getty Images]}

"They've earned the right to be a little aggressive.

One thing that has irked Trott, however, is what he sees as excessive friendliness between the teams on the field of play.

While headlines were made by Ollie Robinson's sendoff to Usman Khawaja following his first-innings dismissal, and further exchanges between the two later in the game, the Test was played without much incident. 

"It's become a little bit matey," Trott said. "There is the odd hug after a Test match - I don't think I ever hugged an Australian after a Test match, and I don't think I've ever seen it before. 

"That rivalry has to be there, that hatred for one another on the pitch. I was a little surprised how much chatting and joking and smiling there was between players."

The Cricketer Podcast is a new podcast offering from The Cricketer, pairing former England international Jonathan Trott and The Cricketer chief correspondent George Dobell.

Listen now on your regular podcast provider. 

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.