Marcus Trescothick: Difference between revisions

Marcus Edward Trescothick MBE (born 25 December 1975 in Keynsham, Somerset) is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club, and represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals before his official retirement on March 22 2008.^[1]

A left-handed opening batsman, he made his first-class debut for Somerset in 1993 and quickly established himself as a regular member of the team. Trescothick made his One-day International (ODI) debut seven years later, against Zimbabwe in July 2000. His Test debut, against the West Indies, followed in August.^[1] Although former England captain Nasser Hussain likened Trescothick's build and batting temperament to that of Graham Gooch, his stroke play is more reminiscent of David Gower.^[1] Trescothick is an accomplished slip fielder and occasional right-handed medium pace bowler who has kept wicket for England in five ODIs,^[2] and deputised as England captain for two Test matches and ten ODIs.

Trescothick was an automatic choice for England between 2000 and 2006, before a stress-related illness threatened his career and forced him to pull out of the national squad.^[3] He began the process of rebuilding his career with Somerset in 2007, and scored two double-centuries that season. However, he continued to remain uneasy about returning to international cricket,^[4][5] and subsequently suffered a recurrence of his condition shortly before he was due to embark on a pre-season tour of the UAE with Somerset.^[6] He announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2008, opting to continue playing at county level for Somerset.^[7]

Early years and personal life

Trescothick was immersed into cricket from an early age. His father, Martyn, played two matches for Somerset's Second XI and was a good amateur player.^[8][9] They played together in competitive Western League matches while his mother, Lin, made the club teas.^[8] He was educated at the Sir Bernard Lovell School near Bristol, where his exceptional scores for the school were rewarded with a Somerset contract in 1993.^[10]

Trescothick married Hayley Rowse in Trull, Somerset, on 24 January, 2004,^[11] and the couple have two daughters, Ellie Louise (born April 2005)^[12] and Millie Grace (born January 2008).^[13] He lives in Taunton, and also owns property in Barbados, near similar properties owned by Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff.^[14] He is nicknamed Tresco and Banger (after his favourite meal of bangers and mash),^[1] and is the honorary vice-president of Bristol City F.C., as well as being a keen golfer.^[8] Outside sport, he has been recognised with a Taunton Deane Citizenship Award, and was granted the Freedom of his home town, Keynsham.^[15]

Early domestic career

Trescothick's first full season at Somerset in 1994 was one of his best, where he scored a total of 925 runs, including two centuries and eight half-centuries at an impressive batting average of 48.63.^[16] Having played for the English U-19 cricket team against the West Indies in 1993, and Sri Lanka and India in 1994, Trescothick was named captain for the two Under-19 series against West Indies and South Africa in 1995. His career aggregate of 1,032 runs for England U-19 is second only to John Crawley's 1,058.^[17][18]

Trescothick was not as successful in domestic cricket in 1995,^[16] although there were still some highlights including an innings of 151 against Northamptonshire (a third of his season's total), and a hat-trick, including the wicket of century-maker Adam Gilchrist, for Somerset against Young Australia.^[19] Trescothick's England Under-19 form was still excellent, averaging 74.62 with the bat in six matches. His Under-19 team mates would often mock him for wearing an England blazer after his matches; Trescothick would reply by saying that "it might be the closest I get to playing for England".^[20]

The following five years were mixed for Trescothick. Averaging about 30 runs per innings, he was often criticised for a lack of foot movement. David Gower described Trescothick's technique by saying "he does not need to move a long way but needs to move enough. When he is playing well ... he is very good at transferring weight. When he is not playing well, his feet get stuck".^[21] However, Trescothick was awarded the NBC Denis Compton Award for Somerset's most promising young county player in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.^[1]

In 1999, Trescothick impressed Glamorgan coach Duncan Fletcher in a county match at Taunton, by scoring 167 in a low-scoring match where the next-highest innings was only 50.^[1] When England opening batsman Nick Knight sustained a finger injury in 2000, Fletcher, who had by then become England coach, called on Trescothick to make his England debut in the NatWest Series against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.^[22] Trescothick's regular selection for England meant that he was rarely available for domestic selection between 2000 and 2006, often playing only a few matches for Somerset at the start of the season.

International career

Debut and centuries on maiden tour

Trescothick participated in two England A tours during the winter of 1999, but his full One-day International debut came against Zimbabwe at The Oval on July 9, 2000, when he scored 79.^[22][23] He continued his good form in the tournament with a Man of the Match-winning 87 not out against the West Indies at Chester-le-street,^[24] amassing 288 runs at an average of 48.00 and taking two wickets against Zimbabwe at Old Trafford.^[25]

As a result of his good form in the NatWest series, Trescothick was given his Test match debut later that summer in the third Test against the West Indies at Old Trafford.^[26] He displayed a calm temperament when England lost early wickets, scoring 66 and forming a partnership of 179 with Alec Stewart.^[27] Journalist Thrasy Petropoulos observed that there was "poise and durability...just as there had been enterprise and verve to his impressive start in the One-day arena."^[28] He ended the Test series with an average of 47.50.^[29]

England began the 2000–2001 winter tour with the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy at Nairobi Gymkhana Club. Trescothick did not score highly in the tournament, and England were knocked out at the quarter-final stage against South Africa.^[30] Trescothick was named the Professional Cricketers' Association Player of the Year for his performances for Somerset throughout 2000.^[10]

Trescothick's maiden international century came against the Sindh Governor's XI in October 2000, during the first warm-up match to the Pakistan series.^[31] Trescothick reached his highest score (71) of the three Test matches in the opening innings of the first Test. He took his sole Test wicket in the third Test, when Ashley Giles caught the Pakistan opener Imran Nazir.^[32]

Trescothick started the Sri Lanka tour with a century against a Sri Lanka 'Colts XI'. He was the top scorer in both innings of the first Test with 122 and 57, although this was overshadowed by Marvan Atapattu's 201 not out in Sri Lanka's innings.^[33] Trescothick averaged 41.33 in the Test series, but only 16.00 in the three subsequent ODIs.^[34][35]

England played two Test matches against Pakistan in June 2001. Although Trescothick scored 117 in the second Test, it was not enough for England to win the match.^[36] His ODI form improved at the start of the 2001 NatWest Series against Australia and Pakistan, with scores of 69 and 137 respectively.^[37] However, his series ended with two consecutive ducks, and England lost all their matches in the tournament.^[38][39]

England's leading batsman, 2001–02

Although Trescothick was England's second highest run scorer in the 2001 Ashes series,^[18] he displayed a tendency to give his wicket away when "well set".^[1] England lost the series 4–1, with the majority of the England batsmen's contributions being overshadowed by Mark Butcher's 173 not out to win the fourth Test. Trescothick's apparent inability to make major scores was again apparent in the 2001–02 One-day International series in Zimbabwe, where he only passed 50 on one occasion despite scoring consistently.^[40] He also captained the side for the first time in this series, deputising for the injured Nasser Hussain.^[18]

Trescothick really came into his own on the winter tour of India in 2001. The three-Test series saw him averaging 48.00, with a highest score of 99.^[41] He was England's best batsman in the ODI series, averaging 53.00 with a strike rate of over 100. He scored a century in the first ODI, although England lost by 22 runs.^[42] He established a reputation for keeping his composure while the rest of the team were failing; at this point, none of Trescothick's four international centuries had resulted in an England win.^[1] He was also man-of-the-match in the final ODI, setting up an England victory, with 95 runs from 80 balls.^[43] This tour established Trescothick's reputation as one of England's best batsmen against spin bowling: according to David Gower, he was "judging line and length very well".^[21] Indian Cricket named him one of their five Cricketers of the Year for 2002.^[10] The following tour of New Zealand was less successful for Trescothick, only once reaching double figures in a poor One-day series,^[44] coupled with an average Test match performance.^[45]

Trescothick had been playing well in 2002, scoring 161 in the Sri Lankan series and being awarded the Player of the Series in the tri-nation NatWest Series (including a century in the final),^[18][46] until his season was cut short when he fractured his thumb while fielding.^[47] He returned for the fourth Test against India, scoring two half-centuries.^[48] Trescothick had mixed fortunes in the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy; he followed his century in the NatWest final with a man-of-the-match winning 119 against Zimbabwe,^[49] but failed to score as England lost to India and exited the tournament.^[50]

In October, Trescothick was one of 11 players awarded "central contracts" by the ECB,^[51] which compensate a player's county for their lack of domestic appearances.

Trescothick was overshadowed by Michael Vaughan during the 2002–03 Ashes series, averaging only 26.10 with a top score of 72 in comparison to Vaughan's average of 63.30 and three centuries. Trescothick averaged 31.60 across 10 matches in the VB Series,^[52] but England were outplayed by Australia throughout the tour. Trescothick failed to excel in the 2003 World Cup as England failed to qualify for the knock-out stages.^[53] In his five matches, Trescothick's top score was 58 against Namibia, with a tournament average of 23.20.^[54]

Continued success in 2003 and 2004

Trescothick played well against a weak Zimbabwe side in the two-Test series in May-June 2003, and scored an unbeaten century in the three One-day Internationals against Pakistan averaging over 100.^[55] His form continued in the 2003 NatWest Series, with 114 not out against South Africa. The opening stand with Vikram Solanki of 200 runs was the highest first-wicket partnership for England and provided the first instance of both England openers scoring centuries in the same innings.^[56] Trescothick maintained his form in the South Africa Test matches; a career-best 219 at The Oval completed a successful series in which he averaged 60.87.^[57]

In Bangladesh, scores in the nineties against both the President's XI and Bangladesh A were followed by a century in the first Test, and 60 in the second. He scored one half century in the three ODIs, although England only used five batsman in the comfortable victories. England played poorly against Sri Lanka,^[58] with Trescothick finding it hard to build a large innings. He attempted to take control of the match with 70 at Colombo, as England tried to get something from the series, but was also criticised for his poor catching.^[59][60]

His form in the tour to the West Indies in March and April 2004 was mixed. After several low scores in the Test series—Trescothick started with only 20 runs from his first five innings—he reached two half-centuries, but failed to make a substantial match-winning contribution. This poor touring form may have been the start of the troubles that would rule him out of international cricket in the future. Trescothick said, "The hardest thing for me has been the pitches. So far nets and the matches have been on average surfaces and runs have been hard work...In England you get used to good practice surfaces so the rhythm of batting comes pretty easy [sic]."^[61] However, he topped the England batting averages in the 7-match One-day series, with 267 runs including 130 in the 5th ODI and 82 from 57 balls in the 7th.^[62]

Back in England, Trescothick was called upon to captain England after Michael Vaughan sustained a knee injury. Although other England captains had seemed to suffer a lack of batting form, the extra authority did not affect Trescothick, and he forged a good partnership with debutant Andrew Strauss against New Zealand. This understanding developed in the second Test with a first-wicket partnership of 153; Trescothick went on to score 132, his sixth Test century.^[63] Trescothick's partnerships with Strauss were to average 52.35 in 52 innings.^[64] His first century against the West Indies followed in the second Test, and Trescothick became the first player to make centuries in both innings of a Test match at Edgbaston, and the ninth England player to score a century in each innings of a Test match.^[65][66] Trescothick was again England's best One-day International batsman in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, scoring 261 runs in just four innings, including a century in the final; he also took his fourth ODI wicket.

2004 and 2005 Ashes

The 2004–5 tour of Zimbabwe caused several players to voice their concerns about the Robert Mugabe regime, the security issues in the country, and the standard of the Zimbabwean side.^[67] Steve Harmison was the first to boycott the tour for "political and sporting reasons",^[68] and Flintoff was reported to be considering taking a moral stand himself. The England Chairman of Selectors David Graveney denied that the selectors would leave out players unhappy with touring Zimbabwe and would put their absences down to injury.^[69] Flintoff and Trescothick were, however, "rested" allowing Kevin Pietersen to make his debut.^[70]

Trescothick used the time to prepare for the following series in South Africa, even took up yoga in attempt to bolster his performances abroad.^[71] In December 2004, he made 85 not out against an N.F. Oppenheimer XI in South Africa. A partnership of 152 with Strauss in the opening Test against South Africa was followed by a partnership of 273 in the second, in which they both scored over 130. This was a record opening partnership at Durban and England's first 200 opening stand since Gooch and Michael Atherton in 1991.^[72] Before this, the difference between his home and abroad average was over 20,^[73] and his third overseas century went a long way to counter this. With regard to his touring difficulties, Trescothick stated "I wouldn't say I've put it to rest, but I've made a big step forward to putting it to rest. It's a mental battle for me, something I have to deal with and work hard to try to understand what is different.^[73] He made a further improvement with an even larger score of 180, as England won the fourth Test. After batting slowly with Ashley Giles, the fall of Hoggard's wicket soon afterwards spurred Trescothick to start "unleashing ferocious shots", setting up an unlikely victory with Steve Harmison partnering him.^[74] In the matches preceding the 2005 Ashes series, England wrapped up two easy victories against Bangladesh. Trescothick scored 194 in the first Test, and 151 in the second.^[75] He also scored 100 not out against Bangladesh in his 100th ODI, surpassing Gooch's record of eight ODI centuries for England.^[76]

Trescothick fared better in 2005 than in the previous Ashes series, becoming the second highest run scorer in the series (behind the prolific Kevin Pietersen).^[77] During the third Test, he became the fastest player to reach 5,000 runs in Test cricket,^[78] and also achieved the notable feat of scoring over 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year for the third consecutive year: 1,004 in 2003, 1,003 in 2004, and 1,323 in 2005. He also had the dubious honour of becoming both Glenn McGrath's 500th and Shane Warne's 600th Test wicket during the series.^[79][80] Trescothick was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for his achievements in 2005,^[81] and was awarded an MBE in the 2006 New Year honours list with the rest of the English team.^[82]

For the Test series against Pakistan, Trescothick was offered the captaincy once more due to an injury to Vaughan. He was unsure whether to accept but realised that as "unofficial second in command...I believe it was the right thing to step up. It is exciting to think I could be in charge for a few weeks...I know there is a chance I maybe won't be a one-match wonder this time - it could be the whole series, but being very close to Michael, I've seen the things it [captaincy] does to you."^[83] As it transpired, Trescothick scored 193 in the first innings (although England lost the match), and Vaughan returned for the second Test. Trescothick had considered leaving the tour early when his father-in-law had a serious accident, but stayed in Pakistan as fellow opener Andrew Strauss returned home to attend the birth of his first child.^[84]

Illness and depression throughout 2006

During England's tour of India in February 2006, Trescothick abruptly returned home citing personal reasons. He later blamed a virus.^[85]

Trescothick returned to Test cricket in May, scoring 106 against Sri Lanka to become the first Test centurion of the 2006 English season. The century proved to be the high point of Trescothick's Test summer, however, as he reached a half-century just once in the subsequent six Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. This run of form was lifted later in the year by two ODI centuries, one apiece against Ireland and Sri Lanka. In September, he withdrew from the remaining ODIs against Pakistan and asked not to be considered for the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy squad because of a stress-related illness.^[3][86] It was later believed likely that Trescothick had been suffering from clinical depression, which was also the cause of much of his trouble throughout 2006.^[87]

Returning once again to the international arena, Trescothick was included in the squad for the 2006–07 Ashes in Australia, and played in the first two tour matches against the Prime Minister's XI and New South Wales. On 14 November, following the match against New South Wales, England announced Trescothick was flying home due to a "recurrence of a stress-related illness".^[88][89] Geoffrey Boycott later stated that depression amongst cricketers is rarely documented, but with the current congested ICC schedule, player "burnout" and similar illnesses were becoming more commonplace.^[90]

Trescothick's uncertainty over his place in the England squad drew varied criticism.^[91] However, he also received support from respected players, including Somerset captain Justin Langer,^[91] Alec Stewart, Mike Gatting, and Bob Woolmer.^[92]

Recovery then international retirement in 2007—2008

Trescothick ended some speculation about his international career by announcing that he would like to be considered for a place in the national side in the future. England's management staff continued to support him,^[93] and named him in the initial 25-man squad for the 2007 Test series against the West Indies. Having recovered from a double hernia operation, and proving himself fit for the start of the county season, Trescothick began his comeback to cricket by scoring 256 from 117 balls in a 50 over match against Devon on 8 April 2007, helping Somerset to 502-4 off their 50 overs.

His comeback to the County Championship continued with a 44-ball half-century against Middlesex on 19 April 2007, while in May he hit a career-best 284 against Northamptonshire,^[95] although Trescothick stated then that he did not feel ready for an international Test match position.^[4] Trescothick followed this double century with a knock of 76 off of 35 balls against Northamptonshire, with five fours and seven sixes.^[96]

Debate over Trescothick's place in the England squad continued amid an end-of-series reshuffle in the England batting lineup. This included the dropping of fellow opener Strauss from the One-day side,^[97] and the rise of Alastair Cook as a Test and One-day opener for England.^[98] Trescothick stated that he would see how he progresses before committing to the international scene: "Of course I'd love to play for England again.... Clearly, if I want to continue my career I have to undertake another tour. But for now, if and when I get back to full fitness and I think I am OK and ready to play, I'll make myself available for England."^[98] He added that he was "desperate to play for England again" but was waiting until he was "as convinced as I can be that I am ready to take on the challenge of international cricket".^[99]

In July 2007, Trescothick was named in the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa, with the full squad to be confirmed on 11 August.^[100] However, Trescothick pulled himself out of the squad before the final confirmation date, stating that "[I am] now clear that I should take more time to complete my recovery".^[101] The England selectors confirmed that they remained in favour of including Trescothick at some point, looking "forward to his making himself available again for England when the time is right". Trescothick, however, said that he knows England cannot wait for him forever,^[102] and on 10 September 2007 he went into his second year without an England contract.^[103]

Meanwhile, his good domestic form continued with a fast 146 and 69 not out during a four-day match against Northamptonshire, giving Somerset an unlikely victory.^[104] A score of 49 from 83 balls followed in the four-day match against Nottinghamshire,^[105] and a score of 84 from 79 balls against Durham^[106] was followed by a man-of-the-match winning 124 which saw Somerset promoted to the first division of the NatWest Pro40.^[107] Of his 2007 season, Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose stated that Trescothick had made "terrific progress".^[102] Trescothick maintained prolific form throughout the season despite a foot injury, scoring 1,343 runs at an average of 61.04 to guide Somerset to the Division 2 championship.^[108] He was awarded a benefit year in 2008, following on from successful surgery on an injured metatarsal,^[109] however he remains firm on his decision to stay out of the England team for the sake of his health.^[5]

On 2008-03-15, Somerset announced that Trescothick had decided to pull out of the county's pre-season tour of the UAE after suffering a recurrence of his condition, leading many to speculate that, given this latest setback, it seemed increasing unlikely that Trescothick would represent England again.^[6] Somerset's director of cricket Brian Rose, however, stated that he didn't "see the setback as a major problem" and that Trescothick would be able to play for Somerset in the following season, and "for many years" after.^[110] He would never return to international level, however, and announced his retirement from international cricket on 22 March 2008. He stated that he had "tried on numerous occasions to make it back to the international stage and it has proved a lot more difficult than [he] expected" and repeated his desire to continue playing domestic cricket.^[7] He later stated that it was his decision to withdraw from Somersets tour of Dubai that prompted his decision.^[111]

In March 24 2008 former England cricket player Angus Fraser wrote in a column for the Independent newspaper: "Obviously, it is sad to see such a dedicated, patriotic and likeable man forced to give up something that patently meant so much to him, but the inner torment that came with attempting to overcome the mental illness that prevented him from touring with England for more than two years had to be brought to an end. It was doing Trescothick and his family no good at all. Representing your country is a source of huge pride, but there are far more important things in life."^[112] Fraser had previously written on March 14 2008 in the New Zealand Herald that: "It was in Pakistan that Marcus Trescothick's mental illness began to stir and the opener has not played an overseas test since."^[113]

After a good domestic season for Somerset, Trescothick released his autobiography Coming Back to Me on September 1, 2008. In it, and in media pre-release interviews, he explained that he had suffered from Anxiety attacks since the age of 10, and that playing domestically in the UK meant that whatever the situation, he was only ever three hours away from his family. In interviewed with BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew, he explained:^[114]

I've not brought it out for people to use as a self-help book, to say this is how you cope with anxiety and depression.It's just to get it out in the open - there have been so many questions left unanswered and I've not helped that process. But this is the opportunity, and I hope people can understand why I did a few things I did.

Career records and statistics

Test matches

Records:

• 1,000 runs in a calendar year: 1,003 (2003), 1,004 (2004), 1,323 (2005)^[115]
• First player to score a century in both innings at Edgbaston (and the ninth player for England), 2004 v West Indies.^[66]
• Chittagong Stadium 1st wicket partnership record: 126 with Michael Vaughan, 2003–04 v Sri Lanka
• Century by both openers in same innings,^[116] and Kingsmead first wicket partnership record: 273 with Andrew Strauss, 2004–5 v South Africa
• Multan Cricket Stadium second wicket partnership record: 180 with Ian Bell, 2005–06 v Pakistan
• Riverside Ground first wicket partnership record: 87 with Andrew Strauss, 2005 v Bangladesh
• Riverside Ground second wicket partnership record: 155 with Ian Bell, 2005 v Bangladesh
• The Oval third wicket partnership record: 268 with Graham Thorpe, 2003 v Sri Lanka

Man of the match awards:

Man of the Series awards:

Career performance:

One-day Internationals

Records:

• Most consecutive ODIs for England: 92 (8 July 2000–25 September 2004^[119]
• Beausejour Stadium fourth wicket partnership record: 110 with Andrew Flintoff, 2003–04 v West Indies
• Bellerive Oval first wicket partnership record: 165 with Nick Knight, 2002–03 v Australia
• Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont fourth wicket partnership record: 142 with Ian Bell, 2006 v Ireland
• Riverside Ground first wicket partnership record: 171 with Alec Stewart, 2000 v West Indies
• County Ground, Bristol second wicket partnership: 124 with Nick Knight, 2001 v Australia
• England and The Oval first wicket partnership record: 200 with Vikram Solanki, 2003 v South Africa
• Rose Bowl fourth wicket partnership record: 53 with Paul Collingwood, 2004 v Sri Lanka

Man of the match awards:

Man of the Series awards:

Career performance:

References

External links

• Player Profile: Marcus Trescothick from Cricket Archive
• Marcus Trescothick at ESPNcricinfo
• Official Web Page

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