Trescothick out of UAE tour

Marcus Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick has withdrawn from Somerset’s pre-season tour to Dubai after suffering a recurrence of the stress-related illness.

The 32-year-old left-hander had hoped the pre-season tour to Dubai, where Somerset would compete with the UAE national side, Lancashire, Essex, Sussex and Yorkshire for the Arabian Cricket Challenge, would be his first successful overseas trip since flying home early from last winter’s Ashes tour with England.

But as Somerset were due to fly out on Friday evening, Trescothick withdrew with a recurrence of the problem which forced him home from England’s tour to India during the early part of 2006.

“Marcus took the decision himself and the club are fully supportive,” Somerset chief executive Richard Gould told somersetcountycc.co.uk

“He has returned home to Taunton to be with his family and we look forward to him playing a full part in our season.”

Trescothick scored over 5,000 runs in his 76 Tests, the last of which was the controversial final Test against Pakistan at the Oval in August 2006, and also played 123 one-day internationals.

He could have been Michael Vaughan’s successor as Test and one-day captain until his illness flared up and caused him to return home early from the India tour.

Having received treatment throughout 2006 for his condition, during which time he continued to play Test and one-day cricket for England, he was passed fit for the Ashes tour that winter.

But before England had even started the Ashes series, Trescothick was again forced to return home with the illness and he has been rehabilitating ever since while playing for Somerset.

Both England and Somerset had hoped this two-week tournament in Sharjah was a good opportunity for Trescothick to begin his road to recovery before his latest withdrawal on Friday night.