Trescothick returns home

14 November 2006

England batsman Marcus Trescothick © Getty Images

England have announced that Marcus Trescothick is to return home to the UK from the team's Ashes tour of Australia.

The Somerset batsman has suffered a recurrence of the stress-related illness which led to him coming back early from England's tour of India earlier this year.

Trescothick flew out of Sydney International Airport earlier on Tuesday and will play no further part in the Ashes Test series.

The England selectors will hold urgent discussions over the next 24 hours about a replacement for Trescothick and an announcement will be made in due course.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said: "Following discussions between Marcus and the England medical staff, it was decided that Marcus should fly home at the earliest opportunity.

"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."