Trescothick rules out England comeback

Published on Thursday 13 August 2009 22:44

MARCUS Trescothick has ruled out making a comeback for England in the deciding fifth Ashes Test at The Oval next week.

The Somerset batsman has been one of several former England batsmen tipped to be recalled for the final match in the series, which the home side must win to regain the Ashes from Australia.

However Trescothick, 33, who battled stress issues during his England career, believes it would be wrong to return – and a traumatic dream convinced him to stay away from the international scene.

He said: "Of course I thought hard about it. But there will be no England comeback for me in the final Ashes Test of this gripping series. It has been very flattering to see my name mentioned in so many circles since Australia's crushing win at Headingley and I'd be a liar if I said the prospect of playing at The Oval hadn't occupied my mind a lot.

"In fact, that has been the case to such an extent that the other day I woke up at 6.30am from a terrible dream.

"There is a nightmare a lot of cricketers experience that they can't get their pads on when they are due in to bat. My dream was a variation of that. I couldn't get my England kit out of my bag! The other players were waiting for me on the pitch to do a team photo so I was in a right panic. I woke up in a cold sweat.

"Perhaps that told me something. It gives me a massive kick that I am still thought good enough to come back and play at international level, but I've gone too far down the line in battling my stress problems to change my mind about now ending my England career." Trescothick was tempted by the prospect of a one-off return to the Test scene, and discussed the option with wife Hayley before concluding he did not have the necessary hunger for the occasion.

The left-handed opener has been prolific in county cricket since his last capped England appearances, which came against Pakistan in the summer of 2006. He flew home ahead of the Ashes series in Australia in November 2006, because of his stress-related illness.

In 76 Tests, Trescothick scored 5,825 runs at an average of 43.79, but he announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2008 and looks certain to spend the rest of his career playing at county level.

There have also been calls for England to recall Surrey's Mark Ramprakash, who has not played a Test since 2002. Unlike Trescothick, Ramprakash, 39, has declared himself ready for a return to Test duty.

Meanwhile, England wicketkeeper Matt Prior will be rested for the Twenty20 finals days at Edgbaston tomorrow. The England and Wales Cricket Board revealed that Sussex had agreed to a request from the England team management to leave Prior out.

Prior, who suffered a back spasm during the build-up to the fourth Test at Headingley, has also been rested from the current round of LV County Championship matches in which Sussex are involved. England Cricket managing director Hugh Morris said: "The England team management were keen for Matt to be rested from all cricket in the period leading up to the fifth npower Test and we are extremely grateful to Sussex for their co-operation and understanding in relation to this matter."