Support for Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick bats in the nets ahead of the fourth ODI at Trent Bridge © Getty Images

Former England cricketers united in their sympathy for Marcus Trescothick's problems and backed him to overcome them and perform in this winter's Ashes series.

The Somerset left-hander opted out of contention for the ICC Champions Trophy in India next month, citing a stress-related illness, which follows his return earlier this year from India with family problems.

The squad for the Ashes series is due to be announced by the selectors at the Brit Oval next Tuesday and Trescothick's name is expected to among the 16 or 17 players chosen to try to repeat England's memorable Ashes win of last summer.

And ex-England captain Alec Stewart, who played alongside Trescothick for three years at international level, believes his former team-mate is more than capable of handling the situation.

"I don't see it as being an issue at all," said Stewart. "When you're out playing against Australia you tend to block out most of what's being said anyway - you're more interested in focusing on the next ball.

"The Aussies are Aussies and, whether you're good, bad or indifferent they will have something to say to you, but it won't be anything that Tres hasn't heard before.

Trescothick remained with the England squad despite his recent announcement

"He knows what he's up against and he knows what to expect because he's played there before and I'm sure he'll cope with it all.

"I don't think the problem is likely to be out on the pitch because you're concentrating on the cricket - the problem is when you're on your own back in your hotel room."

Mike Gatting, the last England captain to win the Ashes down under in 1986-7, claimed the best person to work out whether he was fit enough to play in Australia was Trescothick himself.

"Let's keep our fingers crossed that he will be alright once he gets out on to the pitch, but it's an extremely difficult one to understand," said Gatting.

"If a player has a hamstring strain or something like that it's easy to treat and understand, but only Tres will really know if he's right for the Ashes."

Former England batsman Bob Woolmer, now coach of Pakistan, was also sympathetic and believed it was a blow for cricket that Trescothick felt the need to opt out of the Champions Trophy.

“It's very sad he's not going, that he feels he can't go,” added Woolmer.

“My personal feeling is that you should play as much cricket as you can while you can because you only have a short cricketing life period and you should make the most of it.”