The Hindu : Sport : Trescothick makes a surprise return

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Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
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Sport

Trescothick makes a surprise return

Ted Corbett

LONDON: The England selectors have taken a tentative step towards the return of Marcus Trescothick by naming him in the 30 for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

The final squad for the series must be named next month.

Of all the Ashes winners — Ashley Giles, considering his future after a knee operation, Simon Jones, still looking for full fitness, Andrew Strauss, lacking runs, Andrew Flintoff, recovering from an ankle operation — who have since disappeared from the Test scene, Trescothick is the strangest case.

He has three times unexpectedly returned from tours abroad and even the keenest noses in the pack of news hounds following England have not the slightest idea why.

He has been diagnosed with a stress-related illness and has not been considered by the selectors since the tour of Australia which started with his flight home and ended in a disastrous 5-0 defeat.

Primary reason

Trescothick’s desertion was a primary reason for the whitewash and it has been wondered whether his former teammates would welcome him back. His willingness to return was another concern, but after playing a series of big hitting innings for Somerset in the English Twenty20 competition, he has apparently declared himself ready to come back.

Everyone can see how badly he has been missed. He is not just a member of the brains trust that runs the team, a consistent slip catcher and a heavy run scorer, but he has built up a knowledge which suggested to the selectors he might one day be captain.

That did not work out but his contributions have been invaluable and now that he has said he misses playing for England it may be time for him to return. But he has offered to go back three times already and broken his word.

Cautious

David Graveney, chairman of selectors, is naturally cautious. He said: “Trescothick is a contracted player and was named in the England Performance squad earlier this summer. We have decided to name him in this provisional squad to give us more flexibility should it be decided that Marcus is ready to return to international cricket.

“Marcus remains a World-class opening batsman, but we will not be placing undue pressure on him to make a return without first carefully considering all the issues. We will be guided by Marcus and the ECB medical staff and I would anticipate that discussions will take place with him before the squad is reduced to 15 in mid-August.

I feel that some of those listed are merely there to make up the 30, but Luke Wright, from Sussex, is a hard-hitting batsman with a Twenty20 century to his name and Chris Schofield has made a spectacular return to the big time.

He bowled his leg-breaks for England against Zimbabwe seven years ago, but so lost his way that he was allowed to go by Lancashire and spent last summer wallpapering.

However, Surrey has given him another chance and he has scored runs and taken wickets. Schofield may not be the new Shane Warne, but he may be what England needs as spin back-up for Monty Panesar.

The probables: