Trescothick’s Test career in doubt after Ashes pull-out

England coach Duncan Fletcher said on Wednesday that he hoped the Test career of Marcus Trescothick was not finished after the senior opening batsman quit the Ashes tour and flew home with a recurrence of a stress-related illness.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said on Wednesday that he hoped the Test career of Marcus Trescothick was not finished after the senior opening batsman quit the Ashes tour and flew home with a recurrence of a stress-related illness.

Asked whether Trescothick pulling out as he did during England’s India tour last February meant the end of his Test career, Fletcher replied: “That’s very difficult to say, I hope not.

“I can’t say at this stage. It would be foolish of me to turn around and say anyone’s Test career is over. There’s been injuries where

cricketers have said their careers are over, physical injuries, and they’ve come back. Prime example of that was (fast bowler) Darren Gough, where everyone said he was finished and would never play cricket again and he returned to play.”

Story continues below this ad

Fletcher denied it had been a gamble bringing Trescothick to Australia, saying team doctors had assured him the batsman had recovered after taking a break following the India tour.

But “about two days ago this problem seemed to return with Marcus and I had a meeting and at first we decided maybe the best way is to get his wife and kids out here early. I wasn’t too happy with that.”

The Somerset batsmanthen failed to return to the field during the New South Wales second innings in a practice match on Tuesday. Trescothick, who will be 31 next month, has played 76 Tests scoring 5,825 runs at 43.79 with 14 centuries. He was the second-highest run scorer with 431 behind Kevin Pietersen (473) in last year’s Ashes .