Jonathan Trott began dreaming of helping England win the Ashes in Australia eight years ago - when he was still spending much of his time in his native South Africa.

Twenty-nine-year-old Trott remembers watching England, and specifically his future Warwickshire team-mate Ashley Giles, in a series lost 4-1 at a time of almost unquestioned Australian domination. It was the winter before Trott, now happily ensconced as England's inked-in number three, made his county debut.

"I remember watching the 2002/3 series the year before I went to Warwickshire," he said. "I watched Ashley Giles, knowing I was going to be his team-mate the following season. I was very excited about that."

In 2002/03, England at least managed to win the last Test. But on their next tour, Trott had to watch from afar as Andrew Flintoff's team were whitewashed 5-0.

"Obviously watching the last series in 2006/7, things didn't go well - but four years later, here I am. I've definitely come a long way in four years - I hope I'll be even further down the line in another four years."

Trott already has an unbeaten hundred to his name in the current Ashes series, and last summer brought him a double-century and another innings of 184 among 446 runs for just twice out at Lord's.

Even so, he regards himself as a work in progress.

"Not everyone is going to be smashing hundreds every time," he said. "There is always someone who is going to be under the spotlight, and it's the job of the rest of the team to pull him through and keep him motivated and his belief up.

"It's also the individual's responsibility to keep his self-belief ... you can't rest on your laurels. You have to improve all the time, and that's what I try to do.

"I never lost self-confidence in myself at any stage. I knew that I could bat number three for England and contribute to winning Test matches. That's my main aim."