Jonathan Trott may have spent the first decades of his life in South Africa, but he will be heading into the unknown when he returns to his home country with the England squad this evening. If Andy Flower, the team director, is proved correct, then the reception will be distinctly hostile.

While Flower believes that Kevin Pietersen has now proved himself sufficiently to enjoy respect from crowds when he joins the party on his comeback from injury on November 10, Trott should expect a repeat of the spiteful reaction shown towards his compatriot in 2004 when he heads back for the first time in enemy colours.

This week, Michael Vaughan repeated a story in The Times about Trott celebrating with the South Africa players after the Edgbaston Test last year. Defeat prompted Vaughan to resign as captain and the fact that Trott had served as an England twelfth man at the previous game at Headingley added to the anger felt by the departing leader.

Trott discussed the incident during a one-to-one session with Flower on Wednesday when the squad assembled at the National Cricket Centre in Loughborough for pre-tour fitness assessments and briefings, emphasising that he was offering no more than a “well done” to Paul Harris, the South Africa spin bowler and a long-time friend.

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The timing of Vaughan’s anecdote removed any slight prospect of the nationality issue not arising yesterday when Flower was promoting the Sky Sports ECB coach education programme, just as Pietersen underwent his first net practice since undergoing surgery on his Achilles on June 22.

“When I saw Jonathan, he knew this stuff was coming out in the papers and he was quite comfortable with it,” Flower said. “He told me that he had a very clear conscience, that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time but that there was nothing malicious about it at all. I believe him.

“He is perfectly committed and we are happy to have him. I watched him prepare for the Ashes Test at the Oval, saw him play in that Test, his debut, and nothing since has changed my opinion that he is 100 per cent committed to this team and this country. I can assure everybody of that.

“I was not there, but I heard that KP had a hard time last time. I think it will be easier for him now. He will have the respect of the South African public and they love their cricket out there. For Trott, I am sure he will get a hostile reception, but I also know he is really looking forward to the tour.”

Flower pointed to a long line of players including Allan Lamb, Tony Greig and Graeme Hick who left southern Africa to play for England, suggesting that the cases of Trott and Pietersen are no different. In the earlier examples, however, the players simply did not have the option of Test cricket in their home countries.

Pietersen and Trott, on the other hand, left South Africa because they felt their careers were being blocked by a quota system introduced to encourage non-white participation after apartheid. “I am quite comfortable with the commitment they have shown,” Flower said. “They are very much part of the team and of English cricket.”

In a twist of sorts, South Africa can draw on Duncan Fletcher, a former England coach (though Zimbabwe-born), as an adviser for the four Test matches and five one-day internationals. Flower is unconcerned about Fletcher identifying chinks in batting techniques of former charges, saying: “I am confident the batsmen can handle what is thrown at them.”

And he was equally bullish about the bowlers, not least Liam Plunkett on his return after a lengthy spell in county cricket. “We can win the Test series with our attack,” Flower said. “Without [Stephen] Harmison and [Andrew] Flintoff we are perhaps a few miles per hour down, but we can make that up with other things.”

The playing itinerary

First Twenty20 international: Nov 13 (Johannesburg)
Second T20I: Nov 15 (Centurion)

First one-day international: Nov 20 (Johannesburg)
Second ODI: Nov 22 (Centurion)
Third ODI: Nov 27 (Cape Town)
Fourth ODI: Nov 29 (Port Elizabeth)
Fifth ODI: Dec 4 (Durban)

First Test match: Dec 16-20 (Centurion)
Second Test: Dec 26-30 (Durban)
Third Test: Jan 3-7 (Cape Town)
Fourth Test: Jan 14-18 (Johannesburg)