Trescothick: I’ll consider comeback if England ask
SOMERSET batsman Marcus Trescothick, a veteran of England’s 2005 Ashes triumph, has hinted he could be ready to make a sensational return for the deciding Test of the current series.
Trescothick retired from international duty in 2008 after suffering from a stress-related illness and has since resisted all attempts to coax him back to the England set-up.
But with England selectors pondering batting changes for the fifth and final Test at The Oval next week, and Trescothick being widely touted for a recall, the left-hander has appeared to invite an approach.
“If I was asked, I don’t know. If they threw questions at me, I would listen. But until they do I can’t answer,” said the 33-year-old.
“I am just carrying on what I am doing at Somerset, carrying on playing. Anything else is so hypothetical at the moment. It’s always nice to be thought of, of course it is. But people are talking about it more than I am thinking about it.”
England’s batsmen, and No3 Ravi Bopara in particular, are facing the axe for the fifth Test after managing just one century between them in the four Tests so far.
Fine form at county level has put Trescothick back in the frame – he has hit 1,330 first-class runs at an average of 78.23 this summer – along with Kent captain Rob Key, Warwickshire’s Jonathan Trott and Surrey veteran Mark Ramprakash.
Trescothick resisted the advances of Andrew Strauss in April when the England captain asked him to return to the national fold for the World Twenty20. Earlier this week he appeared to rule out a comeback, saying “I’m retired, I’m done”, although his latest comments suggest his stance has softened.
Australia levelled the series at 1-1 with victory at Headingley on Sunday.