Successful England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick has now formally announced his retirement from international cricket after repeated pulling out of tours to stress-related problems.However, he will continue to play for his county Somerset.
Trescothick has probably been the best opening batsman for england in more than a decade as suggests his career stats of an average greater than 37 at 85.41 per 100 balls in odis and a 43 average in tests at 54.5 with a best of 219 against south africa. He was an exponent of the uppish cover drive, walking down the wicketbefore dismissing it with utmost beauty. His square play, particularly the slog sweep lent him good success against the wizard Muralitharan both home and away. Equally good to watch was his Jayasuriya-style hits over mid-wicket against even faster bowlers ( i remember him doing it to even Glenn Mcgrath in a ICC trophy match that england won)
He has the fastest century by an english opener in odis out of 81 balls against india in a 2002 tour where he was adjudged man of the series. Besides, Trescothick bowls occasional right arm seam, sometimes effectively when there is assistance. Trescothick has also occassionally kept wickets and captained England in Nasser Hussain's absence a few times and later Michael Vaughan.
Trescothick was a key performer in the 2005 ashes victory in which he scored over 400 runs. Trescothick's key partners have been Nick Knight in odis, and Michael Vaughan in tests.
But his appearances stopped abruptly after pulling out of the ICC champs trophy in India and later the Ashes tour to australia which England lost 0-5. From then he gave hints that he would like to return to international cricket if health permits, before finally announcing his retirement.
For me it was a very shortened run of what could have been an even more enchanting career than what it has already been. May God be with Marcus!!
