Graveney backs Trescothick

England need Marcus Trescothick to be in peak condition © Getty Images

England chairman of selectors David Graveney is confident Marcus Trescothick will play a full part in the Ashes defence against Australia.

Trescothick was left out of the ICC Champions Trophy squad after being ordered by medical experts to rest due to a stress-related illness.

But after enjoying a family holiday in Gran Canaria, Trescothick is back working with England’s other remaining Ashes tourists for two days a week at the ECB National Academy in Loughborough University.

Graveney has been in regular contact with the Somerset batsman and believes he will cope with the mental and physical demands of an Ashes tour.

“I am entirely confident he can handle it this winter,” said Graveney.

“I saw him at Loughborough last week and he is doing training sessions in Taunton.

“It is not like he has a bad knee or a bad back but, from my dealings with him since the end of the season, I am very confident he will play full part in the Ashes series.”

David Graveney has fully endorsed Marcus Trescothick © Getty Images

Graveney will not give Trescothick any extra-special attention - but everyone in the England set-up knows how vital he is to the Ashes challenge and the subsequent World Cup campaign.

England could do with Trescothick’s experience in India as they seek a return to winning ways in the Champions Trophy clash with Australia on Saturday.

Graveney said: “Marcus is up there in terms of being an international player, as Michael Vaughan is. If they are not available our team is weakened.

“I see my job once the side is selected as being supportive.

“What I do with Marcus now won’t be any different to what I did 12 months ago.

“I know his dad, I used to play cricket against him. The fact Marcus supports Bristol City and I support Bristol Rovers won’t be held against him!”

Vaughan is sticking by the mantra of “never say never” but his chanches of featuring in the Ashes campaign are remote.

Graveney maintains that when fit, Vaughan will captain England and he does not believe that stance undermines Andrew Flintoff’s position as Ashes skipper.

Michael Vaughan could feature during the Ashes in Australia

Should Vaughan make a miraculous recovery in time for the last two Tests then Flintoff would remain as England captain.

But Graveney concedes that while Flintoff is an inspirational figure, England have lost a master tactician.

“I think Michael Vaughan was by far the better captain in that last Ashes series, tactically and in terms of getting the best out of his players,” said Graveney.

“He did a fantastic job in planning to beat Australia. After the Lord’s Test he came up with a great line: ‘Play the ball, not the reputation’ and that was a crucial message.

“I think he is an outstanding captain of his generation. People talk about (New Zealand’s) Stephen Fleming being the best captain in the world. I would suggest Michael Vaughan is.”

But Graveney remains confident the impact of Vaughan’s absence will be minimised by the leadership structure within the England camp, which is headed now by Flintoff and includes Andrew Strauss and Trescothick.

“The set-up we have under Duncan Fletcher is that the mechanism is there to run the team, whoever is captain,” said Graveney.

“With the management team involved and the senior players nobody every captains a team on their own. They do it together but Freddie just happens to be captain for this particular series.”