In Trott, England unearths a South African diamond

When his hundred came up, it mattered not a jot to The Oval's cheering crowd that Jonathan Trott was born and learned his crHe's as English as a cream tea now, proving it by kissing the three white lions on his England helmet to celebrate his century.

And what a knock it was. In his debut Test, Trott has not so much as exceeded expectations but entirely blown them away, proving as valuable at crunch-time against Australia as a diamond dug from a South African mine.

Trott's selection for this deciding Test was a gamble, one of several that England took and which have paid off big. Another was playing Stuart Broad, instead of spinner Monty Panesar. Given Broad's first innings demolition of Australia, with a master class of controlled swing bowling that put the Ashes within England's grasp, that selection decision ranked up there with E=mc2 for genius.

As much as many hoped that Trott would prove to be the batsman that England so badly needed to shore up its struggling middle order, few surely bet on it. There are few baptisms by fire more scorching than starting a Test career in the deciding game of the Ashes. Trott would have been excused had he wilted. Instead, he proved unflappable, playing with all the patience and control of a level-headed veteran as he notched up his century Saturday.

"He showed great composure," said Australian batsman Marcus North, who has been lumbered with much of the bowling responsibilities here because of his side's failure to field another spinner. "He applied himself exceptionally well."

Trott's 119 runs off 193 balls was the keystone in England's second innings total of 373/9. That left Australia needing a world-record 546 runs to win.

Although the Australians were refusing to concede defeat Saturday evening, the only real question now is how England will celebrate? Another open-top bus tour through downtown London, with MBEs from the queen, like in 2005? Seems a bit old hat, but also so much more than many expected going into this Test. icket in South Africa.