Stress illness rules Trescothick out of Ashes

ENGLAND'S Ashes preparations suffered a significant setback yesterday when batsman Marcus Trescothick flew home from Australia following a recurrence of a stress-related illness that has put the opener's future as a Test cricketer in jeopardy.

Trescothick left Sydney just nine days before the start of the first Test - which gets under way in Brisbane on 23 November - after the England medical staff agreed he should return home.

"Following discussions between Marcus and the England medical staff, it was decided that Marcus should fly home at the earliest opportunity," head coach Duncan Fletcher said in a statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"We are naturally disappointed to lose a player of his quality from our Ashes squad and everyone in the dressing-room hopes that he is able to make a full recovery and resume his cricketing career."

However, former England captains Mike Gatting, Graham Gooch, Bob Willis and Nasser Hussain were split as to whether Trescothick would ever return to the Test arena.

The 30-year-old quit England's tour of India earlier this year because of stress illness and was troubled by the problem during England's domestic summer despite scoring a century in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's. The left-handed opener also missed the recent Champions Trophy in India. "It's a massive blow to him and his career," said Willis. "There's severe doubt whether he can get back to playing international cricket again."

Gooch said "there's got to be a doubt about his future career", while Gatting admitted he was "not surprised" by yesterday's news, but Hussain was more supportive.

"He's still pretty young," said Hussain. "A year down the line, or two years down the line, Trescothick could easily come back into the England side.

"He could get himself back into a mental state to play. The problem will be proving to the selectors because he has stated twice now that he's fit to go on tour and twice he's pulled out. The next time it happens, they might turn round to him and say, 'You said this last time Marcus ... how do we know you're not going to pull out?'."

Only last week, Trescothick told reporters that he was looking forward to the pressure-cooker atmosphere of an Ashes series. "Since we won the Ashes back in England last time this is what everyone's been waiting to see again," he said. "Everyone looks to see these hard contests and the pressures you get put under."

Trescothick has played 76 Tests for England, scoring 5,825 runs at an average of 43.79, with a high score of 219. He scored 431 at 43.10 on the last Ashes tour, with a series best of 90.

However, Trescothick made a poor start to the current tour, scoring two runs in the opening match against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on Friday, then eight in the second game against New South Wales, which ended in a draw yesterday.

The ECB said the management would hold urgent talks today to choose a replacement, with several players already on standby at a training camp in Perth. Alistair Cook is the most likely to be promoted to open the batting in the first Test in Brisbane.

Trescothick's ups and downs

1993: Somerset debut.

1999: Catches eye of future England coach Duncan Fletcher with 167 against Glamorgan.

2000: July: Hits 79 on England ODI debut against Zimbabwe. August: Hits 66 and 38 not out on Test debut against West Indies at Old Trafford.

2001: February: Maiden test century against Sri Lanka at Galle. October: Captains England in fourth ODI against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.

2004: May: Captains England in first Test with New Zealand at Lord's in absence of injured Michael Vaughan.

2005: September: Finishes victorious Ashes series with 431 runs.

2006: February - Returns home from tour of India due to personal reasons. September: Opts out of the ICC Champions Trophy in India. November: Flies home from Ashes tour.

Batting options

Robert Key (Age 27, Tests 15, average 31):

Poor domestic season with Kent but England selectors regard him highly.

Owais Shah (Age, 28, Tests: 1, average: 63):

Filled in on tour of India, helping to win third Test. Like Key, part of Academy squad Down Under.

Ed Joyce (Age 28, Tests 0): Joyce scored over 1,000 runs in the county championship last season but has no Test experience.

Matt Prior (Age 24, Tests 0): England do not need another wicketkeeper but Prior is adept with the bat, averaging 31 in championship season.

Michael Vaughan (Age 32, Tests 64, average 42.94):

The injured England captain claims to be three weeks away from match fitness.